Box Score LA VERNE, Calif. – The Tufts men's basketball team built a sizable first half lead and used that lead along with 18 points from senior Eric Savage to pick up an 80-69 win at University of La Verne on Saturday afternoon.
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| Casey McLaren helped the Jumbos with seven points and four rebounds |
It had been 17 days since the Jumbos last game, as they took a small break for finals and the holidays. The game was the first of two they will play out on the west coast. With the win the Jumbos improve to 8-2 this season, while the loss puts the Leopards at 0-9.
The Jumbos scored the first five points of the game with a layup from Savage and a three from junior Brennan Morris. The Leopards answered with a three form Jordan Allen, but then the Jumbos got a layup from Savage and a jumper from Morris to take a 9-3 lead about five minutes into the first half.
Down by five about a minute later Isaiah Know turned in a free throw for the Leopards, and Paul Antonis followed that with a three to cut the lead to one, 11-10, with 12:45 remaining in the half. After the two teams traded baskets, the Jumbos got a free throw from freshman Dylan Thoerner and that was followed by a three from classmate Casey McLaren. A layup from junior Luke Rogers put the Jumbos ahead by seven, 19-12, about halfway through the first half.
The Jumbos held onto that lead for a bit. Ahead by four, 25-21, with 6:16 left in the half, the Jumbos scored 14 unanswered to increase their lead. Savage started it with a layup and then sophomore Tyler Aronson made two free throws, to increase the lead to 11. About a minute later Rogers made two at the charity stripe to make the lead 13. Thoerner made a layup with 3:44 left in the half and junior Will Brady sunk a three that put the Jumbos ahead 39-21 with 3:12 in the half. The Jumbos took a 41-29 lead into the break.
The Leopards cut that Jumbo lead to open the second half. Knox started the scoring with a three and then Brad Yasukochi added a layup. Jarid Taylor followed that with a three that brought the Leopards within four, 41-37, just about two minutes into the second half.
The Jumbos stopped the scoring streak with a layup from Savage and that was followed by a three-point play from sophomore Carson Cohen with a jumper and the made free throw after to put the Jumbos ahead by ten, 47-37, about four minutes into the second half. Back-to-back layups from junior Max Oppenheim increased the Jumbo lead to 14 and then Aronson made two free throws that put the Jumbos ahead, 53-37, with 12:58 left in the game. They would hold on to that lead for the rest of the second half on their way to an 80-69 win.
Savage led the Jumbos with 18 points, and he added eight rebounds and three assists. Rogers finished with 13 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks. Morris tallied eight points and three rebounds. Aronson turned in nine points and four rebounds, along with three assists. McLaren and Thoerner each added five points and four rebounds, and Brady also finished with seven points.
Sinai Enoch led the Leopards with 15 points, three rebounds and four assists. Antonis turned in 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Allen helped with ten points and five rebounds. Tyler Ridley finished with nine points and Trevor Andresen added six.
The Jumbos are back in action on Sunday when they travel to Caltech for a 7:30 pm (EST) start. La Verne plays again next Saturday when they host Caltech for a 2 pm (PST) start.
