MEDFORD, MA (February 21, 2026) -- Senior forward
Scott Gyimesi posted a big double-double of 29 points and 13 rebounds to power the No. 11 and second-seeded Tufts University men's basketball team to a 99-84 win over Colby College in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) quarterfinals inside Cousens Gymnasium.
Gyimesi was one of five players in double figures on Saturday afternoon for the Jumbos, as the senior forward was 12-of-16 overall and 3-of-5 from three-point land. He added two blocks and two assists as well. He also moved into 13th all-time in points at Tufts with his 1,297th point, passing Bill Ewing '83 and his 1,286 points.
Tufts and Colby were right with each other in the first half, as the largest lead of the first 20 minutes was a 9-3 lead for the Jumbos just under three minutes into the game. The contest was deadlocked late in the half at 48, but two free throws by junior
Dylan Reilly followed by a Gyimesi offensive rebound and put back made it 52-48 at halftime.
The Jumbos led early in the second half, but Colby rallied to tie the game again at 54 at the 17:23 mark of the second frame. The Jumbos responded with a 14-3 run over the next three minutes, highlighted by a two-handed dunk from first-year guard
Ricardo Nieves to make it 68-57 with just over 14 minutes left.
The Mules pulled to within six at 72-66 on a three-pointer from Savion Stroud, but that would be as close as the visitors would get as Tufts held a double-digit lead for much of the remainder of the game.
Junior
Jon Medley had a strong game overall, tallying 16 points as he hit all of his eight free throws, while classmate
Zion Watt was 4-for-7 overall for 15 points. Nieves was stellar off the bench with 12 points, five boards, three assists and two steals, and senior
Joshua Bernsteina finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and a team-high seven assists.
Senior
Sidney Wooten hit a pair of triples to tally eight points off the bench, and
Robbie Nyamwaya was 1-of-3 overall but his lone field goal was a thunderous one-handed dunk over a Colby defender in the second half.
Tufts shot a stellar 53.4 percent overall from the field, making 31 of its 58 field goals for the game. The Jumbos made eight three-pointers, and used a huge 29-of-38 day at the free throw line to add to the offense.
The Jumbos held a big 46-26 edge on points in the paint, and also posted a 20-7 fast break point advantage.
Sophomore Dan Civello had 20 points and four assists for the Mules before fouling out, and senior Max Poulton finished his collegiate career with 16 points and four rebounds as he connected on four triples. Stroud finished with 11 points, nine caroms and six assists, and Sam Hinman added 11 points.
Colby shot 60.7 percent in the first half, going 7-of-14 from three-point land, but cooled off in the second half making only 12 of its 32 shots overall (37.5 percent).
With the win, Tufts will now take on third-seed Trinity College next Saturday afternoon at Wesleyan University in the NESCAC semifinals. Host Wesleyan and top-seed will battle No. 5 Bates College in the other semifinal.
--JUMBOS--
