Box Score MEDFORD - Senior Sam Freeman hit a short jumper from the right side with 1.9 seconds remaining in the second half to give the University of Massachusetts-Boston a 76-74 upset of fifth-ranked Tufts University in non-conference men's basketball action at Cousens Gym on Tuesday night.
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| Tarik Smith hit a pair of late threes to keep the Jumbos alive |
Freeman scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Beacons, who improved to 5-2. Tufts, which lost its second straight and dropped to 6-2, was led by 16 points by junior Everett Dayton.
UMass-Boston led by seven points, 72-65, with 90 seconds remaining in regulation after a steal and a lay-up by freshman Alex Sanchez. Tufts would rally to tie the score at 74-74 with 19 seconds remaining. Senior co-captain Tarik Smith hit a pair of three-pointers 14 seconds apart, with the second trifecta set up by a steal and assist from Dayton.
With the 19 seconds remaining to set up their final shot, the Beacons went inside to Freeman and he swished it. A desperation half-court shot by the Jumbos as time expired wasn't close.
The Jumbos led by as many as 11 points in the opening half (39-28) on Dayton's lay-up at 3:42 of the period. However, the Beacons closed the half with a 10-2 run to pull within 41-38 at the break. Senior Dan Powers hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to send the visitors into the break with some momentum.
Dayton and junior Ben Engvall both had nine points at intermission for Tufts, who hit five of 10 threes in the half. Freeman had 12 points for the Beacons at the break.
Tufts senior Tom Palleschi opened the second half with a jumper putting the hosts ahead 43-38. However, UMB scored the next 10 points on the strength of three-pointers by Powers and junior Iser Barnes to lead 48-43 at the 16-minute mark.
It was a one-possession game from there until a pair of Neil Cesar free throws gave UMass-Boston a 64-59 advantage with 4:37 on the second-half clock. Three-pointers by Dayton and Palleschi for Tufts pulled the Jumbos within three (68-65) with 3:31 remaining in the second half.
Lay-ups by Beacons senior Careem Kirksey and Sanchez opened the seven-point margin in the final two minutes. Tufts' last lead was 59-58 with seven minutes on the clock.
Freeman made 12 of 23 shots with two free throws for his 26 points while adding six rebounds. Barnes had 15 points and four steals for the Beacons, while Powers double-doubled with 15 points (three of four trifectas) and 13 rebounds. Sanchez recorded eight points with five assists. UMB finished +9 in the rebounding battle (42-33).
Smith added 13 points for Tufts including 10 in the second half. Engvall also tallied 13 to go with four rebounds and two steals. Dayton had a team-high six rebounds while senior Drew Madsen led with three assists. The Jumbos finished at 41-percent three-point shooting (9/22).
Tufts travels to Wentworth for non-league action on Saturay at 1 pm. The Beacons are at Eastern Nazarene on Thursday for a 7 pm tilt.
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