HENNIKER, NH (January 10, 2023) -- The Tufts University men's basketball team saw 12 players hit the scoresheet Tuesday evening at New England College, as the Jumbos breezed by the host Pilgrims 97-67 in non-conference action from Bridges Gymnasium.
The contest remained close for the first 10 minutes of the contest, as Tufts led by three following a pair of free throws by NEC's Alex Williams. Senior
Kris Bortz would spark a huge 16-2 run for the Jumbos, powered by three triples from senior
Dylan Thoerner to make it 34-17.
The Tufts lead would continue to grow up to as much as 23 points with just under a minute to play in the first half, as first-year
Scott Gyimesi made the score 51-28 with a bucket. Tufts would take a 51-30 edge into the halftime break, as Thoerner led all scorers with 12 points while
Trumann Gettings added seven points and senior
Tyler Aronson tallied eight points.
Tufts shot 65.6 percent in the opening half, including shooting extremely well from behind the arc as the Jumbos connected on eight of their 14 triples (57.1 percent). The visiting Jumbos would continue to add to their lead, as it would swell up to as much as 27 before the Pilgrims rallied back. NEC would trim its deficit down to 18 with 8:14 to go, but a 10-0 run pushed the Tufts lead back up to 28 on a lay-up by
Carson Cohen.
The Jumbos led by as much as 33 late in the game on a
Jackson Patton lay-up, en route to their third 30-point win of the season. Thoerner finished 7-of-10 on field goals, nailing all five of his three-point attempts as he tallied 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Gyimesi was 6-for-6 for the game as he posted a new career-high with 13 points and five rebounds.
Gettings and senior
Jay Dieterle each registered 10 points, while
Theo Henry finished with nine points, six assists and three rebounds. First-year
Joshua Bernstein made all four of his field goals, scoring a career-high eight points to go with seven rebounds and career-high two blocks.
Casey McLaren posted seven points, and Cohen tallied six points, seven rebounds and four helpers.
The Jumbos finished the game shooting 61.2 percent (41-67), a season-best percentage. Tuesday's field goal percentage was the highest in a contest for Tufts since shooting 68 percent in an 84-78 win over Plymouth State on December 9, 2014. Tufts posted a 38-25 edge in the rebounding battle over NEC, and dominated the paint with a 50-26 edge in points inside.
Kyle Inglis led New England College in scoring with 14 points, while Khalon Taylor finished with 10 points as well.
Tufts (10-3) returns to New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play Friday, January 13 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Amherst College in Cousens Gymnasium.
--JUMBOS--
