MEDFORD, MA (January 25, 2025) -- Juniors
Scott Gyimesi and
Joshua Bernstein both tallied double-doubles Saturday afternoon, as the Connecticut College zone defense was no match for the No. 9 Tufts University men's basketball squad in a convincing 71-42 win for the Jumbos in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) action from Cousens Gymnasium.
Tufts (17-2, 5-0 NESCAC) won its seventh straight game Saturday afternoon while moving to 5-0 in league action for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The 17-2 start is the best since the 1972-73 season when the Jumbos started 20-2. It was also the first win over Connecticut College since the 2021-22 season, and the largest win in NESCAC play for the Jumbos since defeating Trinity College 88-58 back on February 7, 2020.
Connecticut College (11-8, 3-2 NESCAC) scored the first points of the game 37 seconds into the contest on a jumper from Elias Espinosa, but Tufts responded with a 12-0 run over the next seven minutes as
Scott Gyimesi tallied eight points during the span. Minutes later, back-to-back dunks by Bernstein started a run that saw the Jumbos take a 15-point edge at 25-10 after a free throw from sophomore
Zion Watt. CC pulled to within 12 twice but the Jumbos ended the final 2:23 of the first half on a 10-2 run to lead 37-17 at the intermission.
Tufts shot a strong 48.4 percent in the first half, while holding their foes to just six made field goals in 23 attempts (26.1 percent).
The second half was much like the first, as Gyimesi dominated at the free throw line inside the Camel zone defense, as he helped Tufts start the second on a 22-4 run in the first six minutes. After a Matt Leaver bucket pulled Conn. College within 29, Tufts responded with 10 straight for its largest lead of the game at 65-46 after a
Trumann Gettings score with 10:31 remaining. Tufts was able to rest is starters for the final 10 minutes of the game, as the Jumbos cruised to the conference triumph.
Gyimesi finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes, making 12 of his 18 field goals on the afternoon. Bernstein played 22 minutes and tallied his third double-double of the season with a 16-point, 11 rebound output on 7-of-8 shooting. The pair helped Tufts to a massive 52-16 edge in points in the paint.
Watt came off the bench to score seven points while adding three rebounds in just eight minutes, and
Dylan Reilly added five points and four assists. Sophomore
Liam Kennelly had a strong game as well with four points, four rebounds, five assists and steady defense, while
Jon Medley had a great game with six assists, no turnovers and four rebounds.
Tufts made 31 of its 62 field goals on Saturday (50 percent), including going 28-of-44 (63.6 percent) inside the three-point arc. The Jumbos also added a 22-6 advantage in second-chance points, thanks to a 46-23 edge on the glass for the home team.
Espinosa had seven points for the Camels, but was hounded by the Jumbo defenders as the Camel leading scorer was just 3-of-10 from the floor. Leaver added seven points, and Dylan Watson had seven rebounds for CC.
The win sets up a huge battle next Friday evening in Middletown, CT, as No. 9 Tufts will travel to No. 4 Wesleyan University to battle the undefeated Cardinals (19-0, 5-0 NESCAC) for a 7 p.m. tip in NESCAC action.
--JUMBOS--
