MEDFORD, MA (December 8, 2024) -- The No. 16 Tufts University men's basketball team shot a scorching 55 percent from three-point range Sunday, rolling past Brandeis University 87-72 to complete a sweep of the UAA Challenge inside Cousens Gymnasium to finish action before the Holiday break.
The Jumbos (9-1) were playing their fourth game in seven days, but their legs looked anything but tired as the hosts connected on 11 triples to tie a season-high. Tufts shot 31-of-62 overall (50 percent) to run past the Judges (7-2), while posting a big 46-28 edge on the backboards. Tufts also dominated in transition Sunday with a 22-6 advantage in fast break points.
The game was close through the first 10 minutes of the contest, but a 17-3 run for Tufts over a six-minute stretch gave the hosts a 14-point lead after
Dylan Reilly made all three free throws following a foul on a three-pointer. Tufts led twice by 14, but Brandeis closed the half on an 8-2 spurt to trail 39-31 going to the intermission.
The lead would honor around 10 points through the first five minutes, but a 13-3 run over 2:15 of the second half gave the Jumbos their largest lead of the game at 23 after a Reilly trifecta. The Jumbos led by as many as 26 as they cruised to their ninth win of the campaign.
Junior
James Morakis equaled his career high for the second time this season, as he poured in 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting while going 4-of-5 at the line. He added two boards and three assists.
Reilly had his best game as a Jumbo Sunday, as he scored a career-high 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting as he connected on five of his nine attempts from behind the three-point arc. His previous career-high was 17 points in the season-opener this year against Bridgewater State.
Sophomore
Jon Medley continued to fill the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block, while junior
Scott Gyimesi had six points, seven rebounds and five assists in 22 minutes of action.
Trumann Gettings also came off the bench to post four points and five caroms. First-year
Lukas Schmid also tallied five points in six minutes late in the contest.
Elias Rodl had 19 points for the Judges, who finished 27-of-67 (40.3 percent) from the floor while making just eight of their 27 three-pointers (29.6 percent).
Tufts is off for three weeks for finals and the holidays before returning to action Sunday, December 29 at 3 p.m. for play at the Clark University Holiday Tournament, taking on the host Cougars at 3 p.m. in Worcester, MA.
--JUMBOS--
