Box Score MEDFORD – The top-seeded Tufts men's basketball team used a strong second half and 17 points each from juniors Brennan Morris and Luke Rogers to earn an 87-73 win over fourth-seeded Trinity in Cousens Gym on Saturday evening. The Jumbos advance to the NESCAC Final for the first time since 2006.
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| Will Brady turned in 13 points and seven rebounds on Saturday |
Tufts (20-6) will face the winner of the other NESCAC semifinal between Colby and Amherst in Sunday's conference final. Trinity sees their season come to an end with a 17-9 record.
After the two teams traded baskets to open play the Bantams were able to take a small lead. With things locked at six Nick Seretta made a layup and then added two free throws on their next possession. A layup from Kyle Padmore put the Bantams ahead by six, 12-6, about five minutes into play. Trailing by six the Jumbo got a three from senior Eric Savage and then a layup from Morris brought them within one, 14-13, with 13:21 to go in the half. About a minute later Savage made a layup that put the Jumbos ahead.
The game was tied at 15 and 16 and with 11:23 to go Rogers made a layup and the free throw after to put the Jumbos ahead, 19-16. Freshman Dylan Thoerner pushed that lead to five with a layup of his own and after a layup from Trinity's Jadikas Brooks, junior Will Brady drained a three to put Tufts ahead 24-18 halfway through the first half.
Brady added a layup on the Jumbos next possession to increase that lead to eight. After the two teams traded baskets, Trinity got a couple layups from Joe Bell to come within four, 28-24, with 6:32 on the clock. The Jumbos pushed their lead back to eight, but the Bantams came within three with a three from Colin Donovan and an offensive rebound and tip in from Donald Jorden. Savage made a three and then Morris sunk another three to put Tufts ahead by eight with less than two minutes remaining in the half. The Bantams got a three from Steven Lora to cut that to five at the half. The Jumbos were ahead 40-35 at the break.
Tufts came out of halftime on fire scoring ten unanswered to grow their lead. Sophomore Tyler Aronson opened up scoring with a jumper. Morris followed that with a three and then a three from Savage put the Jumbos ahead 13. Aronson made another jumper, and just three minutes into the second half the Jumbos were up 15.
The Jumbos held onto that lead for a bit. Trailing by 14 with just over 12 minutes to go Bell made a three that brought the Bantams within 11. The Jumbos answered with a layup from junior Max Oppenheim. A Rogers layup put the Jumbos ahead 15, and a three from junior Will Brady increased that lead to 18 with 10:18 to go.
The Bantams were able to gain a little momentum at the end. After the Jumbos grew their lead to 24 the visitors got free throws from Seretta and Padmore, then a three from Donovan brought them within 19 with 3:58 to go. Oppenheim put the Jumbos up 21 with a layup, but back-to-back Bantam threes from Christian Porydzy brought the visitors within 15, 81-66, with just under two minutes to go. After Morris made one of two at the line for the Jumbos, Bell made a three for Trinity and then DJ Smith turned in a couple points that brought them within 11, 82-71, with just over a minute to go. That was as close as they were able to come as the Jumbos held on for the 87-73 win.
The 17 points from both Rogers and Morris led the Jumbos offensively. Rogers also added four rebounds, two assists and three blocks and Morris helped with three rebounds and a couple of assists. Savage finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Brady finished with 13 points, including 3-for-5 from behind the arc, and he also collected seven boards. Oppenheim added eight points and five rebounds and Aronson finished with eight points, four rebounds, three assists and a couple of steals.
Four different Bantams finished with double-digit points. Porydzy was the leader with 13 points. Donovan helped with 11 points and three boards. Seretta added ten points, seven rebounds and a couple of assists and steals. Bell collected ten points and six rebounds. Brooks turned in nine points off the bench.
The Jumbos play for the conference championship on Sunday at 2:30 pm against the winner of Saturday's other semifinal between Amherst and Colby.
