Sophomore Carson Cohen sunk two game-winning free throws with five seconds left and the No. 20 Tufts men's basketball team overcame a 20-point first half deficit to pick up a 74-72 win over Western Connecticut State on Friday night in Cousens Gym in the First Round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. Tufts outscored the Colonials 16-0 in the final 4:40 to complete a 14-point comeback in the final minutes.
Four different Jumbos scored in double-digits, including 15 points and 16 rebounds from junior Luke Rogers and 14 points, three rebounds and four assists from Cohen. The Jumbos improve to 22-6 overall this year and advance to the second round of play where they will face off with Rensselaer on Saturday at 6 pm. The Colonials see their season come to an end with a 20-8 mark.
The Jumbos were down 19 points at halftime. In the second half they were able to cut the Colonial lead to as little as six. But, the visitors built that lead right back up and were leading by 14 with 4:40 to go. The Jumbos outscored the Colonials 16-0 in the final 4:40 to complete an epic comeback and pick up the 74-72 win.
Down by 19, the Jumbos opened the second half with a three from Cohen and then a layup from sophomore Tyler Aronson to cut the Colonial lead to 14. After a Colonial layup, a free throw from Rogers brought the Jumbos within 15, 48-33, about a minute and a half into play. But, the visitors quickly pushed their lead to 19 again, and were up 55-36 about four minutes into the second half.
The Jumbos got an offensive rebound and the tip-in from Thoerner and then a three from freshman Casey McLaren brought Tufts within 14. A layup from McLaren on the Jumbos next possession brought them within 12, 57-45, with 11:47 to go. The Colonials held on to that lead for about the next three minutes. Trailing by 15 with 8:28 to go the Jumbos got back-to-back threes from Aronson to bring them within nine. A dunk by Rogers was followed by the free throw after, and it was a two-possession game with 7:09 to go.
But, nearly just as quickly as Tufts cut that lead the Colonials built it back up. Jaheim Young started it with a layup and then after a couple of free throws on the Jumbos end the Colonials got a free throw from Fenton Bradley and a jumper and the free throw after by Ahmod Privott to bring their lead up to 11, 69-58, with five minutes to go. A three from Privott on the Colonials next possession increased that lead to 14.
The Jumbos scored 16 unanswered points to close out the game and pick up the 74-72 win. Thoerner started it with a layup and then Cohen sunk a three to bring the Jumbos within nine with 3:08 to go Thoerner made another layup and the free throw after and then Rogers followed that with a dunk and a layup to cut the deficit to two with 1:21 to go. Another layup from Rogers tied the game at 72 with 32 seconds remaining, but he missed the free throw attempt after to put the Jumbos ahead. On the Colonial end of the court Wes Nelson got off a three and Cohen grabbed a clutch defensive rebound with eight seconds left. He was fouled three seconds later and made both free throws to put the Jumbos up 74-72. The Colonials inbounded the ball and got up the court, but Legend Johnson's shot was blocked by Cohen and the Jumbos picked up the 74-72 win.
The Colonials opened up scoring in the game with a layup from Nelson and then junior Will Brady put the Jumbos ahead, 3-2, with a three about three minutes into play. But, the Colonials went on to outscore the Jumbos 22-4 over the next nine minutes to jump out to a 17-point lead. They led by as many as 20 in the first half, and took a 46-27 lead into the break.
Rogers led all Jumbo scorers with 15 points and added 16 rebounds and three blocks. Cohen added 14 points, three rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Thoerner added 12 points and Aronson tallied 11 points. McLaren added eight points off the bench. Senior Eric Savage finished with five points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
Privott turned in 21 points, five rebounds and four steals for the Colonials. Bradley tallied 19 points and six rebounds. Shea Tracy collected seven points and Young and Tracy Cleckley each tallied six points. Young also added four rebounds. Nelson finished with four points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Jumbos will face off with Rensselaer at 6 pm on Saturday in NCAA Tournament second round play.