Tufts 77, Bates 71
at Alumni Gym

TUFTS MEN USE LATE RUN TO DOWN BATES, 77-71

The Tufts University men's basketball team (7-5) scored 14 of the last 17 points in the game to defeat the Bates College Bobcats (8-4), 77-71, in New England Small College Athletic Conference play.

The Bobcats, who had a 33-32 lead at halftime, were up 68-63 with 3:12 left in the game when Tufts senior guard Mike Andrews (E. Falmouth, Mass.) hit two straight baskets to cut the lead to one at 68-67. On Bates' next possession, sophomore guard Bobby Mpuku (Westport, Conn.) stripped the ball and took it coast to coast, giving the Jumbos the lead for good. Tufts hit six of six free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Bates placed all five starters in double figures, led by first-year guard Billy Hart (Haverhill, Mass.), who scored a game-high 20 points. Sophomore Rommel Padonou (Libreville, Gabon) had 14 points and six rebounds. Tufts was led by Andrews' 15 points, while Mpuku had 13 points and a game-high eight assists.

Tufts 77, Bates 71

Tufts (77): Steve Svajian 0-0-0, Bobby Mpuku 4-4-13, Sebastian Saylor
5-0-10, Dan Flaherty 3-0-6, Paul Smith 6-1-14, Rich Sisson 2-1-5, Tom
Bernier 2-0-4, Fred Pedroletti 1-0-2, Mike Andrews 5-3-15, Brandon
McKenzie 0-0-0, Bobby MacMannis 1-5-8, TOTALS 29-14-77.

Bates (71): Jason Patterson 0-0-0, Matt Moulis 0-0-0, Billy Hart 8-0-20,
Matt Carriker 0-0-0, Alex Wilson 6-0-12, garth Timoll 3-5-11, Rommel
Padonou 4-6-14, Jesse Carney 0-0-0, Ed Walker 5-4-14, TOTALS 26-15-71. 

Halftime: Bates, 33-31. 

3-pt. FG: Tufts 5 (Andrews 2, Mpuku, Smith, MacMannis) Bates 4 (Hart 4).

Records: Tufts 7-5, Bates 8-4.