WORCESTER, MA (December 29, 2024) -- The No. 10 Tufts University men's basketball team never trailed Sunday afternoon at the Clark University Holiday Tournament, cruising to an 87-61 win over the host Cougars in action from Kneller Athletic Center.
The Jumbos (10-1) won their fifth straight game Sunday after 21-days off for the holidays, as Tufts had no hangover as it dominated inside with 48 points in the paint while shooting 50 percent from the floor. Tufts got a career-high 27 points from junior
James Morakis, who upped his season scoring average to 19 points per game. Morakis was 10-of-13 from the floor, adding four assists as well.
Tufts got on the board on its first possession, as
Joshua Bernstein scored on a nice lay-up followed by buckets from Morakis and sophomore
Dylan Reilly to make it 6-0 quickly in the opening half. The Jumbos increased their lead up to double-digits with 13:17 to go in the first stanza after another lay-up by Bernstein.
The Tufts' edge would get up to as much as 18 before halftime on a triple from sophomore
Liam Kennelly, before heading into the locker room at the break with a 47-31 lead. Tufts would hold Clark to just 28.6 shooting in the first half, including allowing just four two-point makes in the period.
After halftime, Tufts' lead would continue to hover around 20 points before a 15-3 run put the Jumbos up 74-44 with 9:44 to go in regulation after a jumper from junior
Scott Gyimesi. Tufts led by as much as 33 late in the game, rolling to the victory.
In addition to Morakis, Gyimesi had a strong game as the junior tallied another big double-double of 17 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Gyimesi was 8-of-13 from the floor.
Bernstein finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, making seven of his nine field goal attempts, and Reilly added eight points. Kennelly had seven points off the bench, and
Trumann Gettings tallied six points and five rebounds as well.
Jon Medley had four points and seven assists, as the Jumbos assisted on 22 of 34 buckets on the night.
Tufts shot 50 percent (34-68) for the contest, making 14 of its 18 (77.8 percent) from the free throw line. The Jumbos finished with a 24-10 points off turnovers lead and also held an 18-9 lead in fast break points.
Kekoa McArdle had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (5-4), while Isaiah Taylor had 12 points and five rebounds. Clark became the first team all season to out rebound Tufts 50-46, but shot only 27.4 percent for the game (20-73).
The Jumbos will finish action in 2024 Monday afternoon at 4 p.m., playing Nichols College in the second day of action from the Clark University Holiday Tournament in Worcester.
--JUMBOS--
