Box Score MEDFORD - In a crazy final minute of regulation, visiting Williams College nearly lost a 10-point lead before holding on to earn an 80-75 victory over Tufts in NESCAC men's basketball action at Cousens Gym Saturday afternoon.
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| Tarik Smith nearly led the Jumbos back from a 10-point deficit in the final minute |
The Ephs led 76-66 with slightly less than a minute on the clock. With a pair of free throws by sophomore Tarik Smith, a steal and traditional three-point play by Smith and another steal and lay-up by freshman Vincent Pace Tufts scored seven points in 10 seconds to cut the margin to 76-73 with 45 seconds to go.
Williams turned it over again, but Smith's three-pointer to tie the score with 11 seconds remaining was off the mark and Eph senior Hayden Rooke-Ley grabbed the rebound. He hit four free throws in the final 10 seconds to secure the victory.
Senior Daniel Wohl scored 20 of his game-high 31 points in the second half to lead the Ephs, who trailed 37-32 at intermission. He was five for eight on three-pointers. Rooke-Ley added 21 points, including a 10 for 10 performance at the line. Williams improved to 13-8 overall and 4-4 in NESCAC.
Sophomore Tom Palleschi was unstoppable in the first half for Tufts, making 11 of 14 field goals and amassing 22 points. He capped the half with an off-balance, buzzer-beatting jumper from the left side. Palleschi finished the game with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Smith had all 16 of his points in the second half for the Jumbos, who dropped to 11-10 and 5-3.
Palleschi scored 14 of his team's first 17 points, but despite his hot hand the Jumbos couldn't build more than a six-point advantage in the first half. They led 23-17 on a three by Pace and 31-25 following junior Ryan Spadaford's lay-up.
Williams hit five threes in the opening 20 minutes to help keep it close. Wohl had 11 points with eight rebounds at the break.
The teams played a one-possession game for most of the first eight minutes of the second half. With Tufts leading 52-50, Wohl took over and scored 11 points during a game-changing 13-1 Williams run during the next six minutes. After his pair of free throws with 6:09 on the clock, the Ephs led 63-53.
The Ephs would not trail again. Tufts did cut the margin down to five three times before the final minute. They were within 67-62 when sophomore Drew Madsen put back a Smith miss with a dunk at 4:19. However, Wohl dominated again with five points during a 7-0 Williams stretch that made it 74-62 with 2:12 remaining in regulation.
Williams seemed to have the game in hand late before almost collapsing in the final minute.
Wohl made nine of 16 shots overall and was eight for 10 at the line while also grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking three shots. Sophomore Daniel Aronowitz and senior Ryan Kilcullen both had 11 points for Williams. Sophomore Mike Greenman posted a game-high seven assists while Rooke-Ley grabbed 10 rebounds. The Ephs finished 11 for 25 from three-point territory (44 percent) and 27 for 31 at the line (87.1 percent).
Palleschi added five blocks to his game for Tufts. Pace scored 12 points off the bench while Haladyna nearly double-doubled with nine points and 11 rebounds (seven offensive). The Jumbos dominated the offensive glass once again 21-4 and were +13 rebounding overall (50-37). The hosts were just 3 for 23 from three-point land (13 percent).
Williams returns home to host Connecticut College next Friday. The Jumbos finish their non-league schedule at home against Fitchburg State on Tuesday night.
Game Photos by Kelvin Ma / Tufts
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