Tufts 91, Bates 73
at Medford, Mass.

TUFTS MEN TAKES 91-73 DECISION FROM BATES

(Taken from a Tufts University Press Release)

MEDFORD, Mass. -- Junior co-captain Dan Flaherty (Fairfield, CT) scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Tufts University Jumbos to a 91-73 victory over the Bates College Bobcats in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) menās basketball action on Tuesday night.

The win was the second in a row for Tufts (16-6, 5-3 NESCAC) and boosted their chances of hosting an ECAC playoff game next week. Bates (7-16, 2-6) lost for the eighth time in their last nine games.

Tufts took control of the game late in the first half. With the score tied 22-22, the Jumbos scored eight straight points to lead 30-22 after two free throws by freshman guard Brian Shapiro (Swampscott, Mass.) with 5:23 to go until halftime. They continued their surge, outscoring the Bobcats 20-8 overall during the final 8:45 to lead 42-30 at the break. Flaherty had seven points to spark the run and 14 in the half.

Bates cut the gap to nine, 49-40, on a three-pointer by sophomore Ed Walker (Roxbury, Mass.) at 16:22 of the second half, but thatās as close as they would get. When the Bobcats dropped the margin to 11, 69-58, with a layup by junior Rommel Padonou (Libreville, Gabon) at 7:45, Flaherty answered with back-to-back three-pointers to up the lead to 17 (75-58) and effectively seal the win for the Jumbos.

Bates had opened a quick 13-4 lead after a three-pointer by sophomore guard Billy Hart (Haverhill, Mass.) four minutes into the game. Host Tufts scored the next nine points to tie the score at 13-13 on a free throw by sophomore guard Bobby MacMannis (Calais, Maine). The first 11 minutes of the game were back and forth until the late first-half run gave the Jumbos the lead for good.

Junior Tom Bernier (West Roxbury, Mass.) helped the Jumbos with eight points and seven rebounds. Walker had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Bobcats. Tufts was 11 of 23 (47.8 percent) from three-point territory.

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