BABSON PARK, MA (November 14, 2025) -- Despite getting a career-high 36 points from senior forward
Scott Gyimesi, the No. 4 Tufts University men's basketball team opened the 2025-26 season with a tough 83-79 road loss to Babson College in non-conference action from Staake Gymnasium Friday evening.
Gyimesi eclipsed his previous career-high of 33 points from a season ago, as he went 16-for-23 from the floor while adding 10 rebounds as well. The 36 points marks the second straight game the Jumbos have gotten a 36-point scorer, as
James Morakis also tallied the point total against the University of Redlands in the NCAA Tournament Second Round last March.
As for Friday evening's contest, the Jumbos (0-1) had to play catch-up for the majority of the contest, despite leading 42-40 at the halftime intermission. Babson (3-0) started the game on a 10-2 run and led until a triple from senior
Sidney Wooten deadlocked the game at 21 with 13:12 to go in the first half.
The Beavers scored the next eight points to take a 29-21 edge, and eventually took their largest lead of the game at 37-26 with just under eight minutes left in the opening stanza. Tufts rallied back though, and scored the final 10 points of the half over the final five minutes including a bucket from senior
Joshua Bernstein to lead by two at the half.
The hosts though would go on a 26-4 run to start the second half, and led by as many as 19 with 11:32 remaining in regulation. The Jumbos didn't go away though, creeping back into the game while making it a one-possession game at 80-77 with 35 seconds to go on a jumper by
Jon Medley.
Babson would hit the its next two free throws and after a bucket from Gyimesi, one free throw by Robby Fiore was enough to seal the win for the hosts. The difference in the game though was the Beavers' outside shooting, as Babson was 14-of-29 (48.3 percent) from behind the arc while Tufts was just 6-of-29 (20.7 percent).
Bernstein had a solid opener for the Jumbos, posting 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting, adding eight rebounds as well. Medley contributed eight points, six assists and five boards, while
Zion Watt went 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep for 10 points. Wooten added seven points, five rebound and three assists.
Tufts won the rebounding battle slightly, 37-35, and also chalked up a 40-18 edge in points in the point.
Babson had three players with 20-plus points, led by Bates College transfer Marc Begin II and his 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting. Sophomore Timmy Mulvey added 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-land, while first-year guard Thomas Ferdinando also had 20 points as he made six of his nine trifecta attempts.
The Jumbos will be back in action Sunday, November 16 on the road, taking on Endicott College in Beverly, MA in non-conference play.
--JUMBOS--
