MEDFORD - Tufts built a 21-point lead in the first half and then held off a second-half surge by #11 Amherst to take an 84-73 NESCAC men's basketball victory Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gym.
Junior tri-captain Tom Palleschi scored 20 points with nine rebounds and four blocks to lead the Jumbos, who improved to 17-5 overall and 6-3 in the league. Tufts finished with four players in double-digits, including sophomore Vincent Pacewith 15.
Amherst lost for the first time in five games, dropping to 18-4 overall and 6-2 in NESCAC. The visitors were led by 28 points, nine rebounds and three steals from senior tri-captain Connor Green.
Amherst led briefly in the first half before a quick 7-0 spurt gave Tufts an advantage they would ultimately not relinquish. A lay-up by junior Tarik Smith put the Jumbos up 15-9 with 14:30 on the first-half clock. Pace had five points during the Tufts spurt including a three-pointer.
The Jumbo lead would stay in that range for a bit and stood at 23-18 after Amherst junor Eric Conklin hit a lay-up with 9:50 remaining until halftime. However, the Jumbos would scored 15 of the next 16 points and led 38-19 on a lay-up by junior Drew Madsen at 4:18. Tufts drained three three-pointers during the run.
Amherst went over four minutes without scoring during this span until a free throw by junior David George ended the drought. Amherst went exactly six minutes without a field goal.
The Tufts lead grew as large as 42-21 on a Pace lay-up at 2:19. However, Amherst finished the first half with a 10-4 stretch including a half-court three-point shot by sophomore Johnny McCarthy which cut the margin down to 14 (45-31) at the break.
The visitors then opened the second half with an 8-3 run that cut the margin down to nine at 48-39. Green had five of the points. Amherst would get within seven points on eight different occasions in the second half, but could never get any closer. Palleschi with 11 second-half points and Smith with 10 helped the Jumbos keep Amherst at bay.
Smith finished with 12 points and three assists for the Jumbos, who made eight of 20 three-point shots (40 percent) after shooting 16.7-percent (4/24) on threes Friday night versus Trinity. Senior tri-captain Ryan Spadaford (11 points, 5 rebounds) was three for five from distance, while classmate Zach Roswold added two trifectas. That pair and Stephen Haladyna (8 points, 10 rebounds) were honored in a Seniors Day ceremony prior to the game.
McCarthy hit a game-high four threes and had 14 points for Amherst. Sophomore Jayde Dawson had 10 points with three assists, while George finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Conklin came in at nine points with seven rebounds. Amherst shot just 28 percent (7/25) from long range.
The Jumbos have mid-week non-conference action at Pine Manor on Tuesday in a 7 pm start. Amherst is off until hosting Middlebury in a NESCAC game next Friday at 7 pm.
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