Box Score 
BRUNSWICK, Maine - In a battle between teams led by first-year head coaches, Tufts head coach Brandon Linton's Jumbos scored a well-earned win in a commanding 74-53 victory over head coach Alex Lloyd's Bowdoin Polar Bears on Friday night in Morrell Gymnasium. Tallying their third NESCAC win, the Jumbos continue a confident stretch where they have won six of their last eight games.
Bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss at home against Wesleyan on Tuesday, the Jumbos advanced to 3-2 in conference, and 8-9 overall. The host Polar Bears drop to 10-9, 1-5 in the NESCAC, and lose their fifth game this season by 20 or more points.
After committing three turnovers in the opening five possessions, Tufts faced a manageable 4-0 deficit, which would stand as Bowdoin's largest lead of the night. The Jumbos surged to a 17-7 lead, raining in five three pointers with senior guard Tyler Aronson accounting for two of them. Aronson also wreaked havoc on the defensive end, stealing the ball three times in the first half.
Tufts was dominant on defense in the first period as they forced their opponents to shoot 6-24 from the field and 1-8 from three on their way to a 16-point halftime advantage at 36-20.
The second half proved to be more competitive, but the Jumbos never lost control. In Bowdoin's first possession out of the break, Tufts' senior big man Luke Rogers had three consecutive blocks, adding to the pair of shots he rejected in the first half. After junior Dylan Thoerner's three-pointer with 7:24 left on the clock, Bowdoin would not come within ten points of Tufts for the rest of the game. Missing their top scorer, the Polar Bears relied on forward Xander Werkman who finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
For the Jumbos, Thoerner and Aronson shared similar shooting nights - both went 7-13 from the field and 4-6 from three. Thoerner led all scorers with 25 while Aronson finished with 20. Rogers recorded a double-double, ending the game with 12 points and 17 rebounds.
With their game against Colby postponed tomorrow, Tufts' next competition will be against Trinity at home on February 4. The Polar Bears are scheduled to face Maine rival Bates this Sunday, January 30.
Written by Steven Landry, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
