MEDFORD, MA -- The Williams men's basketball team won its first league game tonight 83-68 over Tufts (6-6, 0-1 NESCAC). With the win, the Ephs move to 11-1 on the year and 1-0 in the league.
The two teams were evenly matched from tip-off, but the Ephs pushed the lead to six behind a beautiful dunk from Sean Hoffmann. The Jumbos, however, came bounding back and tied the game up with 11:02 on the clock following a three apiece from Kwame Firempong and Scott Anderson and a lay-up from Tom Palleschi.
The Ephs and Jumbos traded hoops for the rest of the half, but the Ephs got a lay-up from Matt McCreary and another from Parker McClelland to end the half to go into the break with the 40-34 lead.
The second half started with both teams holding their own on the defensive end, but the Ephs finally started to pull away with just over eleven to play as they went on an 11-3 run. Michael Mayer hit a pair of free throws before Nate Robertson finished in the paint. James Klemm then added a three from downtown before Mayer added a long ball of his own. Daniel Wohl ended the run with a finish inside. The Ephs held onto the momentum for the rest of the half as the Jumbos were unable to cut the lead to any less than nine following the run.
The Ephs shots 69.8% from the field in tonight's game. Mayer led the way tonight for the Ephs with 24 points. He also had 13 rebounds for a double-double. Wohl was second for the Ephs with 15 points as he went 3-for-4 from the floor and 8-for-8 from the charity space. Taylor Epley added 12 and Klemm added ten to round out the double digits club for the Ephs. With his 2-for-2 performance from behind the arc, Klemm scored his 200th career three-pointer. Robertson also added seven assists in the win.
Anderson led the way for Tufts with 19 points. Firempong was the only other Jumbo in double digits with ten points. The Jumbos were 36.6% from the field.
The Ephs return travel to Maine tomorrow to take on Bates. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM.