Box Score 
LEWISTON, Maine - Down seven with two minutes remaining in regulation, the Tufts University men's basketball team rallied for a 71-70 win at Bates College in a NESCAC game early Saturday evening.
The Jumbos held Bates scoreless for the final 2:26 of the game and put together an 8-0 closing run. Dylan Thoerner made a lay-up with seven seconds remaining, then Bates' Raheem Spence misfired on a three-pointer from the left side at the buzzer to give Tufts the comeback victory.
The Bobcats had taken a 70-63 lead when Simon McCormick hit a three with 2:26 remaining. Luke Rogers (pictured, 32 points) scored on a baby hook for Tufts at 1:53, and then came out to get a finger on a three-point attempt by Bates' Stephon Baxter. Thoerner got the rebound, and passed to Rogers alone downcourt for a dunk and it was a 70-67 game with 1:24 to play.
Rogers then took a charge and a pair of free throws at the other end by Thoerner closed Tufts within 70-69 with 53 seconds on the clock. After a Bates miss, Tufts called timeout. Thoerner (23 points) inbounded to Tyler Aronson, who then sent it back to Thoerner underneath for a tough lay-up that would be the game-winner.
Tufts has now won five of its last six to improve to 7-8 overall and 2-1 in NESCAC. Bates remains winless in the league at 0-4 while dropping to 6-7 overall.
The Bobcats did not trail in the first half and led 31-26 at intermission. However, Tufts would surge to its first lead of the game (36-35) on a Thoerner basket at 14:05 of the second half. When Rogers made a three-pointer - just the second of his career - Tufts led 44-40. The teams went back and forth for the next five minutes, and the Jumbos led 58-54 following a Thoerner make as the clock wound down under six minutes.
Bates made a move here, with threes by McCormick and Jacob Iwowo helping them take a 67-60 advantage with three minutes left. Thoerner hit a huge three for Tufts, but McCormick answered for Bates setting up the dramatic final two minutes.
Rogers made 11 of 16 field goals in the game and had 15 rebounds. Thoerner was 10 for 15 from the floor and added seven rebounds. Tufts shot 50.9 percent overall (28/55) and won the battle of the boards 40-30.
McCormick led Bates with 15 points, followed by Baxter with 13 (to go with six assists) and Jahmir Primer with 12. Spence had 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists off the bench.
The Jumbos stay in NESCAC action on Tuesday night when they play a make-up game versus Wesleyan at Cousens.
