MEDFORD - The Tufts University men's basketball team shot 62.5 percent (15/24) in the first half to take a 15-point lead at intermission and cruised to a 69-47 victory over Gordon College in non-conference action at Cousens Gym on Tuesday night.
With the win, Tufts improved to 13-12 overall for their best victory total in four seasons. The Jumbos were led by 16 points and four steals from junior Amauris Quezada (New York, NY). Gordon, who got 12 points from freshman Luke Hamilton (Mount Airy, NC), lost for the first time in four games and fell to 9-13.
The Jumbos couldn't miss early on and surged to an 11-2 lead. A three-pointer by Hamilton helped the Fighting Scots cut the margin down to 11-8 at the 13:25 mark, but Tufts would never trail in the game. The hosts led 27-14 following Quezada's three at 8:43, and the margin ballooned to 19 points (35-16) on junior Alex Orchowski's (Cornwall, NY) lay-up with 5:10 to go until halftime.
Tufts led 38-23 at the half, with 10 points from Quezada leading the way. Eleven players overall scored for the Jumbos in the first 20 minutes, including five points with three rebounds by sophomore Matt Lanchantin (Natick, MA). At the other end, Gordon made just seven of 27 first-half shots (25.9 percent) and were out-rebounded by Tufts 20-12. Hamilton had nine points to lead the Scots at the half.
More of the same followed in the second half. The Tufts lead touched 21 on a three-pointer by Orchowski early in the period. The closest Gordon would get was 15 points at 51-36 following a lay-up by sophomore David Dempsey (Wallingford, CT) with 11:45 remaining in regulation. The Tufts lead peaked at 24 points, 63-39, on Lanchantin's lay-up at 5:53.
Orchowski finished with a double-double, recording 12 points and 11 rebounds for Tufts. Sophomore Scott Anderson (Sudbury, MA) had 10 rebounds for the Jumbos, who finished with a 45-32 advantage in that category. Senior tri-captain Sam Mason (York, ME) pitched in four points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Gordon finished at 30.2 percent shooting (16/53), though they did knock down six of 12 three-pointers. Dempsey had eight points and five rebounds for the Scots, while junior Jordan Kelly (Braintree, MA) added seven points and four rebounds.
Tufts closes the NESCAC and regular season on Saturday at home against Bates in a 2 pm start. Gordon plays a The Commonwealth Coast Conference game at home against Western New England on Saturday at 3 pm.
#