WILLIAMSTOWN - The Tufts Men's Basketball team clinched a home game in the NESCAC Quarterfinals with a 77-73 victory at Williams College on Friday night. Paired with a Wesleyan loss this evening, the Jumbos can finish no lower than fourth in the league.
The game was the regular-season finale for Tufts, who improved to 19-5 overall and finished the NESCAC campaign at 7-3. They will host a conference championship quarterfinal at Cousens next Saturday. Conference pairings will be announced following the conclusion of the regular season tomorrow.
The Williams Ephs (14-9, 4-5 NESCAC) host Bates College tomorrow in their regular-season finale.
After a tightly contested first half tonight, Tufts entered the locker room with a 36-35 lead. The Ephs led for the majority of the half, but senior Stephen Haladyna gave the lead back to the Jumbos on a three-point play with 3:52 remaining in the half.
Williams owned the boards in the first 20 minutes, outrebounding the Jumbos 24-16, but Tufts had only three turnovers to nine for the Ephs. Haladyna scored 13 first-half points on five for 10 shooting. For the Ephs, sophomore guard Cole Teal nailed his first three attempts from behind the arc, but did not attempt another shot for the remainder of the half and led the Ephs with nine at intermission.
Into the second half, Tufts went on a 9-0 run to take a 49-40 lead with 13:33 left. Junior Drew Madsen capped off the run with an emphatic put-back dunk. Ephs junior Daniel Aronowitz broke the run with a three from the left corner. Teal hit a mid-range jumper to pull Williams to within four at 56-52. After a defensive stop, Aronowitz finished with his left hand to make it a two-point deficit with 10:24 remaining. The Jumbos responded with consecutive buckets to extend their lead back to six.
Aronowitz was able to cut it to 69-65 on a tough shot in the lane with 2:55 to go. After Williams couldn't secure the rebound on a missed free throw by Jumbo Vincent Pace, sophmore Ben Engvallhit a crucial three from the left wing with 2:22 left to put the Jumbos up 72-65. Williams wouldn't go away as Teal drilled his fourth three of the game to make it 72-68 Tufts with 1:03 left.
The Ephs employed full-court pressure and senior Ed Flynn fouled junior guard Tarik Smith as soon as the ball was inbounded. However, Smith was given a technical foul for throwing an elbow. With Tufts in the bonus, Smith went to the line and sunk both of his free throws. On the other end, Aronowitz made both of his technical free throws to make the score 74-70. Due to the technical, Williams was also given possession.
With just five seconds left on the shot clock, Teal made a deep three to pull Williams within one (74-73). Ephs freshman Kyle Scadlock fouled Haladyna, who made two clutch free throws to put Tufts up 76-73. Aronowitz found freshman James Heskett in the corner for a potential game tying three, but his shot bounced off the rim and Pace secured the rebound and the win for the Jumbos.
Haladyna led the Jumbos with 22 points to go with six rebounds. Palleschi added 17 points and seven rebounds with Smith finished with nine points and six assists.
Aronowitz led the Ephs with 22 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Teal, five for seven on threes, had 17 points.
Recap courtesy of Williams College
#