MEDFORD – Tufts University had four different double-digit scorers to grab its sixth win in seven games, 67-62, over Bates College in NESCAC men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gym. With the victory, the Jumbos are now alone in third place in the conference at 5-2.
Tufts raced out to a nine-point lead, 11-2, in the first six minutes of play. Sophomore Tom Folliard (Richmond, VA) led the way with six points in that stretch. The Bobcats got to within five on a layup by senior John Squires (Swampscott, MA) at the 3:29 mark, but then the Jumbos tallied 14 of the next 15 points to go back up by 12 points at halftime, 35-23.
Sophomore Kwame Firempong (Inglewood, CA) scored eight points in the first half as the Jumbos shot 51.7 percent (15/29). Bates was just 26.5 percent (9/34), while Squires finished the first 20 minutes with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Bates used a 20-7 run to begin the second half and grabbed its first lead (43-42) since the score was 2-0. Junior Mark Brust (Duxbury, MA) sparked the rally with 10 points for the Bobcats. Less than a minute later, at 11:28, Tufts took the lead back on a jumper by Folliard and never relinquished it.
The Jumbo lead grew back to eight at the 6:11 mark, 54-46, on another basket by Folliard, but Bates had another run left in them. The Bobcats inched to within three, 58-55, with 3:04 to play on a three-point play by Brust and a basket in the paint from Squires.
Again Tufts would take control back, hitting three free throws to go up by six, 61-55. The Jumbos would hit four more free throws down the stretch to ice the win, 67-62.
Junior Scott Anderson (Sudbury, MA) ended as the leading scorer for Tufts with 13 points on 5 for 9 shooting. He also added eight boards. Folliard and freshmen C.J. Moss (Westport, MA) and Ben Ferris (Essex Junction, VT) all finished with 11 points. Senior Alex Orchowski (Cornwall, NY) grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds for the Jumbos to go along with three blocks.
Brust tallied 20 second-half points to lead all scorers with a total of 29 on 11 for 22 shooting from the field. Squires added 12 points and 16 rebounds for the double-double. Junior Ed Bogdanovich (Portland, ME) chipped in eight points for the Bobcats.
Tufts finished the game shooting 46.3 percent (25/54) while holding Bates to 31.5 percent (23/73).
The Jumbos are now 14-5 overall and 5-2 in the NESCAC to sit in third place. They will host UMass Dartmouth in a non-league game on Tuesday evening at 7 pm. Bates falls to 10-8 (4-3) and will be off until they host Amherst on Friday night at 8 pm.
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