MEDFORD, Mass. – The Tufts University Jumbos used a 57-point second half to rally from an early deficit and defeat the Leopards of the Wentworth Institute of Technology, 84-73, in non-league men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gym.
With the win the Jumbos improves their record to 4-1, while Wentworth drops to 1-3.
The Leopards controlled the first half as they went on a 16-0 run over a six-minute span to build a 15-point advantage, 18-3. Sophomore guard Ronnie Turner (Lewiston, ME) had 10 points during the stretch for Wentworth. The largest spread of the half came at the 8:37 mark when a jumper by sophomore forward Cam Sennick (Wilton, ME) pushed it to 20 at 27-7.
Tufts clawed its way back into the game at the end of half, going on a 20-7 run to pull within seven points at halftime, 34-27. Senior guard Kwame Firempong (Los Angeles, CA) netted 12 first-half points to keep the Jumbos in it. Turner poured in 15 first-half points for the Leopards on a perfect 6 for 6 shooting.
Within one minute in the second half, Tufts was down only two, 36-34, but the Leopards were able build the lead all the way back up to double-digits at 13, 52-39. Consecutive three-pointers for Tufts by senior forward Tommy Folliard (Richmond, VA) and first-year guard Tarik Smith (Bronx, NY) helped re-start the comeback for the Jumbos.
At the 6:20 mark of the second half, an alley-oop pass and dunk by Smith to freshman center Hunter Sabety (Oceanside, NY) tied the score at 61. Two free throws by senior guard Derek Mayo (Casco, ME) gave the Leopards the lead back before a three-pointer by Folliard gave Tufts its first lead since 3-2. Turner answered with a three-ball of his own to give Wentworth the lead, but it would be its last advantage of the game.
Two more shots from downtown by Folliard and Firempong put the Jumbos in front by four and they would never relinquish the advantage.
Firempong finished the game with a team-high 23 points for Tufts on 7 of 12 shooting, including 4 for 8 from long range. Folliard (20), Sabety (18) and sophomore guard Stephen Haladyna (11) all scored in double-figures as well for the Jumbos. Sabety finished one rebound shy of a double-double.
For Wentworth, Turner scored a game-high 27 points, going 10 for 12 from the field and a perfect 5 of 5 from three-point range. Sennick and junior forward John-Michael Fragnoli (Scotia, NY) each added 11 for the Leopards.
Wentworth out-shot Tufts for the game, 52% (28/54) to 49% (27/55). The Leopards also out-rebounded the Jumbos, 35-26.
Tufts returns to action at Cousens Gym on Tuesday night for a 7 pm matchup against MIT. Wentworth hosts Wheelock Tuesday at 6 pm.
(Recap Courtesy of Tufts Sports Information)
