BOSTON, MA (November 12, 2022) – Late heroics by seniors
Tyler Aronson and
Theo Henry lifted the Tufts University men's basketball team to an 80-78 overtime win at Emerson College in the Jumbos' season opener on Saturday.
Tufts was trailing 78-75 with less than 20 seconds remaining in overtime after Emerson's Jarred Houston hit a free throw. On the Jumbos' next possession, with time winding down under five seconds, Aronson was fouled while shooting a three-pointer and made all three free throws. That tied the game at 78-78 with three seconds left.
The host Lions tried a full-court in-bound pass, but it was off the mark and went out of bounds. That gave the Jumbos the ball still with three seconds left, and Henry drove to the hoop and made a tough reverse finish to give Tufts an 80-78 advantage. Emerson was unable to get a shot off in the time remaining and the Jumbos had a stirring opening win.
Tufts had trailed by 16 points at the half (41-25) and again three minutes into the second half (45-29). However, senior
Dylan Thoerner would score 17 of his team-high 24 points in the second half as Tufts came back.
A key 11-1 Jumbo stretch cut the deficit down to 46-40 at 12:33 of the second half. An Aronson three started the run which featured four points by Thoerner. Emerson would get its lead back to double-digits on a Houston lay-up, but then two threes by Thoerner and another by senior
Carson Cohen pulled Tufts within one possession (54-51).
The hosts were able to keep a slight advantage all the way into the final minute, but Thoerner drilled a huge three with 55 seconds left in the second half to tie the game at 66-66. Both teams missed opportunities to take a lead and the game went to OT.
An early three-point play by Jumbo sophomore
Khai Champion gave Tufts a 69-68 edge, but again Emerson led for most of OT until the Jumbos pulled it out in the end.
Nate Martin had 14 points in the first half to lead the Lions to their sizable halftime advantage. Sophomore Truman Gettings led the Jumbos with seven points at the half. The Jumbos hurt themselves with 10 first-half turnovers and 3 for 11 free throw shooting.
In addition to Thoerner's 24 points overall, Gettings finished with 14 points and both Aronson and Champion had 11 for the Jumbos. Aronson added eight rebounds and five assists. Tufts finished at 50-percent shooting (30-60).
Houston had a game-high 26 for Emerson to go with 14 rebounds, six blocks and four assists. Martin finished with 18 points and Ben Allen recorded nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Jumbos open their home schedule by hosting the New England Big 4 Challenge at Cousens Gym next weekend (Nov. 19-20).
