BOSTON, MA (November 17, 2024) -- The No. 13 Tufts University men's basketball team outscored host Emerson College by 25 in the second half, erasing a two-point halftime deficit to roll to an 80-57 win in non-conference action from Brown & Plofkin Gym Sunday afternoon.
The Jumbos (2-0) trailed at the halftime intermission by two at 36-34, but the second half would see Tufts come alive from the floor as it shot 62.5 percent in the closing stanza. Tufts was 15-of-24 in the second half, dominating inside with 40 paint points.
The Lions (2-1) led by three with 19:19 left in regulation but a
Joshua Bernstein lay-up with 18:38 to go put the Jumbos ahead at 39-38. A subsequent 15-3 run would see the Jumbos take their largest lead of the game to that point at 13 following a pair of free throws by
James Morakis at 14:37 left in the game.
The Tufts' lead would never get back into single digits the remainder of the game, growing the edge up to as much as 24 late in the contest on a free throw by
Jackson Patton.
Junior forward
Scott Gyimesi had a strong and efficient afternoon for the Jumbos, as he was 11-of-14 from the floor for a game-high 23 points while also pulling in 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Bernstein also tallied 15 points, two shy of his career-high in points, while also grabbing seven boards and blocking two shots.
Sophomore
Jon Medley finished with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win, while Morakis also tallied 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Sophomore
Dylan Reilly added nine points and a career-high six assists, pulling in four rebounds, and junior
Sidney Wooten chalked up six points as well for the Jumbos.
Tufts shot 50.8 percent (30-59) for the contest, also making an impressive 81 percent (17-21) from the free throw line.
Linus Helmhold finished with 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench for Emerson, and Jacob Armant also had 11 points in the loss.
Tufts will continue its three-game road swing to start the 2024-25 season on Tuesday night, heading back into Boston Proper for a test against Suffolk University at 7 p.m. in non-conference action.
--JUMBOS--
