Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – Freshman Dylan Thoerner turned in a career-high 21 points and led four different Jumbos in double-digit points as the No. 21 Tufts men's basketball team cruised to an 87-61 win over Connecticut College on the road on Saturday afternoon.
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| The Jumbos got 43 points from their bench including seven from Kouyoumdjian |
The Jumbos improve to 18-4 overall this season and they are 8-0 in conference games. With the win today, and the Colby loss to Amherst, the Jumbos clinch the top seed in the NESCAC Tournament with one weekend of regular season play left. Connecticut College falls to 4-18 overall and 0-8 in NESCAC play.
The teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of play. Trailing by one the Jumbos got a three from senior Eric Savage to put them ahead two, 9-7. Junior Max Oppenheim made one of two at the line, and then Thoerner added a layup to put the Jumbos ahead five, 12-7, just over five minutes into play.
Ahead six, 17-11, with 11:58 to go in the first half the Jumbos got a layup from junior Luke Rogers, and then a three from Thoerner and a couple of free throws from junior Justin Kouyoumdjian. Classmate Brennan Morris drained a three that put the Jumbos up 14, 25-11, with just under ten minutes remaining in the half.
The Jumbos hung onto that led for a bit, and were able to grow that more towards the end of the half. Ahead 14 with 4:44 to go Savage made a jumper and then Kouyoumdjian drained a three. After a Camel free throw, Thoerner made a jumper and three free throws from Savage put the Jumbos ahead 22. Tufts took a 53-29 lead into the break.
After a dunk from Rogers to start the second half the Camels got a dunk from Dan Draffan and a free throw after to cut the Jumbo lead to 23. Morris tallied a three for the Jumbos, and after Draffan made one of two at the line for the Camels the Jumbos got a layup from sophomore Carson Cohen and a three from junior Will Brady put them ahead by 30 with 15:49 to go in the game.
Trailing by 31 with just about ten minutes to go the Camels were able to chip away at the Jumbo lead. It started with a three from Jack Zimmerman. Then a layup and a couple of free throws from Ben McPherron cut the lead to 24. But, that's as close as the Camels would get. Oppenheim turned in four points to push the Jumbo lead back to 28, and the Jumbos held on for the 87-61 win.
Thoerner led the Jumbo offense with 21 points and he also added four rebounds. Morris finished with 15 points and three rebounds. Savage tallied 12 points, two rebounds and two assists. Rogers added ten points, 11 rebounds and six blocks. The Jumbos got 43 points from their bench today, including the 21 from Thoerner, seven from Kouyouymdjian, five from Oppenheim and three each from freshman Theo Henry, rookie Casey McLaren and Brady.
The Camels were led by 21 points from Draffan, and he also added four rebounds. McPherron finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jack Zimmerman and Patrick Lazor each added eight points for the Camels. Jeff Allen was the only Camel to turn in points off the bench, helping with seven.
The Jumbos are back in action on Friday when they travel to Middlebury for a 7 pm tip off with the Panthers. Connecticut College plays again on Friday with a trip to Hamilton for a 7 pm start.
