Tufts 111, Bates 104
at Medford, Mass.

BOBCATS' WINNING STREAK SNAPPED
IN OT, 111-104, AT TUFTS

MEDFORD, Mass. — Tufts University junior Brian Shapiro (Swampscott, Mass.) scored eight of his 23 points in overtime to lead the Jumbos to a 111-104 victory over the Bates College Bobcats in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opener for both teams. The win snapped the Bobcats' eight-game winning streak. The Jumbos improved to 10-5 overall, 1-0 in NESCAC, while the Bobcats dropped to 12-4, 0-1 in NESCAC.

Tufts led all the way in overtime after an 88-88 tie at the end of regulation. Two three-pointers by Shapiro put the Jumbos up 96-90 at the 2:57 mark. Bates closed the gap to 96-92 at 2:44 on an offensive rebound and put-back by senior tri-captain Alex Wilson (Duxbury, Mass.). After Tufts pushed the margin to eight (100-92) following free throws by senior Jim Wilson (Rockland, Maine) at 1:48, a trifecta by Bates junior Angelo Salvaggio (Portland, Maine) pulled Bates to within four again, 102-98, with 53 seconds to go. That's as close as the visitors got, as Tufts hit its free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Bates led by eight, 83-75, with 4:21 to go in the second half after two free throws by Salvaggio. The Jumbos then scored nine out of the next 10 points to pull even at 84-84 with 1:53 to play following a technical foul against Bates that Tufts used for two free throws by junior Mike McGlynn (Medford, Mass.) and two more by Shapiro. Two free throws by Jim Wilson gave Tufts an 88-86 margin with 25 seconds left, but Bates answered with a layup by sophomore Brian Gerrity (Manchester, Maine) with 16 seconds to go that knotted the score at 88-88. Jim Wilson missed a three-pointer for Tufts at the buzzer.

The Bobcats led by as many as nine points in the first at 43-34, but Tufts closed the stanza with a 20-7 run to take a 54-50 into the locker room. The Bates defense improved in the second as the Bobcats held Tufts to just 29.4 from the field after the Jumbos hit 55.9 percent in the first.

Bates put six players in double figures, led by 28 points and 10 rebounds by Alex Wilson. Sophomore guard Ramon Garcia (Haverhill, Mass.) scored 18 points with six assists.

McGlynn scored a game-high 31 points for Tufts, hitting on seven of 11 threes and shooting eight for eight at the free throw line. Five Jumbos were in double figures overall, with Jim Wilson adding 21 points, including five in OT.

(taken from a Tufts Univ. press release)