MEDFORD, MA (January 5, 2024) -- Connecticut College guard Elias Espinosa hit a driving lay-up with eight seconds to play, and a last second shot from Tufts University wouldn't fall as the No. 5 Jumbos dropped the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opener 56-54 in a defensive struggle from Cousens Gymnasium Friday evening.
The Jumbos had to fight back furiously in the closing minutes, but the hosts showed some grit and character following a timeout with just under six minutes to play in regulation down nine. With the score 52-43 with 3:34 left after a three-pointer by the Camels (10-2, 1-0 NESCAC), Tufts went on a 11-2 run over the next 2:37 capped by a three-pointer from junior
Khai Champion to tie the game at 54 with 57 seconds to play. It was the first time since 6-6 the game had been deadlocked.
After a Jumbo stoppage, Billy Whelan of Conn. College missed a three-pointer, but the rebound bounced around and was corralled by the Camels with 23 seconds to go. After a timeout by the visitors, Espinosa drove to his right and finished an acrobatic lay-up for the eventual game-winner. On the ensuing play for Tufts, Champion found sophomore
Scott Gyimesi underneath but his attempt was off the mark as time expired.
Tufts was forced to rally after a 10-0 run in the first half gave the Camels a 24-12 lead with seven minutes to go in the opening stanza. The lead would grow to 16 points after a dunk by David Murray, but a three-pointer by Champion made the game 35-22 going into the locker room.
The Jumbos trimmed their deficit down to six with 15 minutes remaining after a bucket by Gyimesi, but six straight points pushed the Camel lead back up to 12 with 11 minutes on the clock. A Gyimesi jumper made it 45-40 with 8:58 left, but that was as close as the Jumbos would get prior to their late run to tie the game.
Tufts put three players in double-figures Friday night, as
Casey McLaren had a strong game with 13 points and five rebounds, going 5-of-9 overall and 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Gyimesi tallied his ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds, adding three steals, and Champion was 4-of-9 on field goal attempts for 11 points.
Sophomore
James Morakis tallied nine points as well, while
Joshua Bernstein came off the bench to pull down 12 boards in addition to his two blocks. Senior
Jay Dieterle also added six points, four assists and three rebounds. Tufts shot 36.4 percent from the floor on the night, but did hold a 42-29 edge on the glass. Both teams made seven three-pointers on the game, but CC was 5-of-6 at the line while the Jumbos went 7-of-14 from the charity stripe.
Espinosa tallied 19 points for a game-high point total Friday, and Murray added 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win for the Camels.
Tufts (12-2, 0-1 NESCAC) will host Emmanuel College Sunday at 1 p.m. in the final non-conference game of the 2023-24 season inside Cousens Gymnasium. With the weather forecast looking ominous, make sure to check gotuftsjumbos.com as to any scheduling updates to Sunday's game, while following along on social media on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @tuftsjumbos.
--JUMBOS--
