NEW LONDON, CT (January 6, 2023) -- The Tufts University men's basketball team struggled from the field on Friday night, dropping a 63-55 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) decision to Connecticut College in the league opener for both teams in action from Luce Field House.
The Jumbos (9-3, 0-1 NESCAC) shot a season-low 36.1 percent (22-61) from the floor on the evening. Things started out well for Tufts, as it led 7-2 after three minutes following four points from sophomore
Trumann Gettings and a triple from senior
Dylan Thoerner. The Jumbos would lead until the 7:29 mark of the first half, as Ben Rice connected on a three-pointer to put the Camels (10-4, 1-0 NESCAC) on top at 18-16.
Tufts tied the game at 18 on a dunk from Gettings, but Connecticut College tallied the game's next nine points to take their biggest lead at 27-18 after a jumper from Andrew Hartel. Hartel had six points in the spurt for the Camels. Thoerner hit another three-pointer to make it a six-point game but a David Murray lay-up just before the buzzer gave the hosts a 29-21 lead at the break. Gettings had eight points in the frame to lead Tufts, while Murray paced all scorers with 12 for CC.
After the intermission, the Camels would continue to add onto their lead as Rice hit a three-pointer to make it 47-31 with 11:30 to play. The lead stayed in double figures for the hosts until 2:30 left to play, as a pair of
Theo Henry three-pointers started and ended a run that made the score 57-52 with a minute to play. After a CC dunk, another three-pointer by
Casey McLaren made it a four-point game, but back-to-back fast break lay-ups in the waning moments sealed the win for the Camels.
Gettings would finished tied for the team-lead in points with 14, shooting 7-of-9 while pulling in seven rebounds and blocking a pair of shots. McLaren was 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep on the way to 14 points, and Thoerner tallied 12 points for the Jumbos. Henry also finished with nine points and five rebounds, making two of his three attempts from behind the three-point arc.
Murray recorded game-highs of 16 points and 15 rebounds (eight offensive) in the win, while Cam Schainfeld and Hartel contributed 12 points apiece. The Camels shot 44.1 percent (26-59) from the floor, and earned a slight 42-36 edge on the glass. Those rebounds would also turn into a 18-6 advantage in second-chance points, while Connecticut College also finished with a 34-20 lead in points in the paint.
Tufts will look to rebound on Tuesday afternoon, heading to New England College at 5 p.m. in Henniker, NH for a non-conference tussle with the Pilgrims.
--JUMBOS--
