Box Score MEDFORD – Sophomore Tyler Aronson sunk a game-winning three with 15 seconds left in the game to help the No. 23 Tufts men's basketball team pick up a 76-72 win over visiting Bates in Cousens Gym on Saturday afternoon.
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| Senior Eric Savage led Jumbo scorers with 21 points in the win |
The Jumbos improve to 14-3 overall and 4-0 in NESCAC play with the win. Bates is now 9-7 this year with a 2-2 mark in conference games.
The Jumbos were trailing by 11 with 13:41 left in the game. They worked to tie the game at 56 with 8:36 left, and those final eight minutes were a back and forth affair. With the score locked at 71 with 24 seconds left in the game Andrew Snoddy made one of two at the line for the Bobcats to put them ahead, 72-71. On the Jumbos end of the court senior Eric Savage attempted to drive to the basket for the game-winner, but had no shot and passed the ball out to Aronson who drained a three with 15 seconds left to put the Jumbos ahead 74-72. Sophomore Carson Cohen forced a key turnover on the Bobcats last chance, and Cohen was then immediately fouled. He made both at the line to put the Jumbos ahead 76-72.
The teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of play, and with things locked at six the Jumbos got a three from Savage. After a Bobcat layup from Kody Greenhalgh, Savage made a layup and then another layup from Aronson put the Jumbos ahead, 13-8, about five minutes into the game. Bates answered with a jumper from Tom Coyne and a layup from James Mortimer brought them within one, 13-12. Neither team made a shot for about three minutes, and then junior Luke Rogers put the Jumbos ahead by three with a layup about halfway through the first half.
Down 19-18, Stephon Baxter made a layup for the Bobcats to give them the lead again and then Greenhalgh made a three to increase that lead to four. A free throw from Jeff Spellman increased that lead to five with 4:58 left in the half. The Jumbos got within one twice, but weren't able to take the lead back. Ahead 29-27 Baxter put the visitors up by four with a layup, and then Coyne added a three to increase the lead to seven, 34-27, with 1:12 on the clock. Savage made a layup on the Jumbos end and the Bobcats were ahead, 34-29, at the half.
Out of the half the Jumbos got a layup from Rogers, and then a layup and the free throw after from Savage tied the game at 34. The Bobcats answered with a three from Greenhalgh, and after a jumper from Savage, Greenhalgh made another three and then Coyne and Baxter each added threes to put the Bobcats ahead by ten, 46-36, about four and a half minutes into the second half.
Down, 50-39, with 13:41 left in the game the Jumbos got a couple of free throws from Cohen and then a jumper from Aronson. A layup from Rogers cut the lead to five with 12:37 remaining. The Bobcats got a three and a free throw from Spellman, but the Jumbos answered with a three from junior Justin Kouyoumdjian. After a jumper from Spellman, Kouyoumdjian made another three to cut the Bobcat lead to five again. Junior Will Brady followed that with a three of his own to cut the lead to two, 56-54, with 9:10 to go. A layup and the free throw after from Savage with 8:36 left gave the Jumbos a one-point advantage. Rogers then made a jumper, but the Bobcats got a layup form Baxter and then a couple of free throws from Coyne to take the lead back, 60-59. That was how the final six minutes would go. There were five lead changes and the game was tied four times in the final six minutes. Aronson made the three with 15 seconds left to put the Jumbos ahead for good.
Rogers finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds along with four blocks. Savage added 21 points and 11 rebounds, six of those offensive. Aronson finished with 11 points and a couple of steals. Cohen tallied eight points and five assists. Kouyoumdjian and Brady each added six points.
Baxter was the leader for the Bobcats with 28 points. Coyne finished with 15 points and four rebounds and Spellman tallied 11 points and three assists. Greenhalgh also added 11 points.
The Jumbos are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to New England College for a 7 pm start. Bates takes the court again when they host Maine Maritime on Tuesday at 7 pm.
