MEDFORD - Sophomore Vincent Pace poured in 27 points and senior tri-captain Ryan Spadafordhad 23, both career-highs, as the Tufts Men's Basketball team earned a 101-82 win over UMass Dartmouth in Tuesday night non-league action at Cousens Gym.
It marked the third time this season that Tufts has topped 100 points in regulation. The Jumbos, who have won four straight, improved to 16-4 overall. Averaging 86.9 points per game, Tufts also received 18 points from junior tri-captainTom Palleschi and 15 from junior Tarik Smith tonight.
UMass Dartmouth (11-9) lost for the third time in four games. The Corsairs were led by 26 points from senior Jordan Rezendes, who entered the game as the nation's leading scorer averaging 30.3 points per contest. He neared a triple-double tonight with 10 assists and seven rebounds.
The Jumbos only trailed once in the game, and would pull away in the second half, but the opening 20 minutes were closely contested. Tufts' nine-point halftime advantage (49-40) matched their largest lead of the first half. The Corsairs were within 25-22 on a lay-up by freshman Arinze Obiora at 10:53, but the Jumbos would score eight of the next 10 points including a three by Palleschi that made it 33-24 at 8:31.
A Rezendes lay-up made cut the margin to 45-40 with 1:17 on the first-half clock, but back-to-back baskets by Smith and Pace gave Tufts their 49-40 halftime lead. Spadaford had 14 in the first half for Tufts, who shot 20 for 40 (50 percent) including five for 11 (45.5 percent) from distance. The Corsairs also shot 50 percent (18/36) in the opening half as Rezendes led them with 13 points and seven assists.
Tufts opened up a 15-point, 59-44 margin three minutes into the second half. Four Jumbos scored during the 10-4 run, including four points by Palleschi. Tufts would push the lead to 19 (69-50) on a traditional three-point play by Smith with 12:25 on the clock. However, the Corsairs responded with an 11-0 stretch to pull within eight down 69-61 with 11 minutes to go in regulation. Rezendes had five points during the run including a three and junior Chris Mendes also hit a three-pointer.
UMD stuck around and was within 12 (81-69) following a pair of Rezendes free throws at 6:55. However, Pace scored the next nine points quickly with a pair of three-ponit bombs and a traditional three-point play putting Tufts up 21 (90-69) at 5:48. The Jumbo lead was significant the rest of the way.
Pace had 17 of his game-high 27 in the second half. He added nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals to an outstanding game. Spadaford hit four of eight on threes and grabbed seven rebounds with three assists. Palleschi finished with six rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks, while Smith totaled five rebounds and four assists.
Freshman Nick Portelance had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Corsairs. Mendes scored 15 points, all in the second half. Junior Jon Robinson recorded nine points, five rebounds and four steals for the visitors.
Tufts has a huge weekend in NESCAC play approaching with Trinity on Friday night at 7 and Amherst on Saturday afternoon at 2. UMass Dartmouth welcomes Western Connecticut for a Little East Conference game on Saturday at 3.
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