In back-to-back games, the men's basketball team found itself in do-or-die situations, trailing by one with the ball and the clock ticking down.
With 2.7 seconds left in overtime, senior tri-captain Reggie Stovell drained a 12 footer to give the Jumbos their fifth consecutive NESCAC win at Wesleyan on Friday night, one-upping the Cardinals 84-83.
Saturday was a different matter, as Tufts found itself on the other end of a down-to-the-wire win. Connecticut College sophomore Zarrette Rogers sank a free throw to put the Camels up by one with only two seconds remaining in the game. Sophomore David Shepard's desperation shot fell short and the Camels eked out the win.
On Friday, Stovell led the team in scoring and rebounding, adding 10 boards to his 22 points for the double-double. The senior standout had some help from freshman Ryan O'Keefe, who notched 21 points on 9-18 shooting from the field, including 3-8 from beyond the arc.
With 2:40 left to play and trailing by 10, Wesleyan put up a furious battle and tied the score, forcing overtime. The Cardinals led through most of the extra period, but the game tightened as the clock wound down. With 10.9 seconds remaining, junior Robert Kelly hit a 10-footer to give Wesleyan the edge at 83-82. The jumper capped an excellent game for Kelly, who led all scorers with 34 points and 10 rebounds, none of which would matter eight seconds later. On the ensuing possession Shepard gave the ball to Stovell, who rendered Kelly's heroics moot.
This final assist was one of 11 on the night for Shepard, who also put up eight points for the Jumbos. Junior Dan Martin also scored 10 points for Tufts.
For the Cardinals, senior Tim Holland netted 22 points and freshman Nick Pelletier put up 18 with 22 alongside Kelly's big offensive game.
Friday's win gave Tufts its fifth NESCAC win and upped its record to 11-6 overall. Flying high, the Jumbos headed into the second half of their weekend schedule still undefeated against league opponents against Connecticut College, who had yet to register a conference win.
Despite an explosive offensive performance from Stovell, in which he matched his career high of 29 points, Tufts fell to Connecticut 74-73 in a surprise upset that dealt the Jumbos their first NESCAC loss of the season.
The first half was back and forth between the Jumbos and the Camels, and the period ended with the game deadlocked at 33.
Midway through the second half the Camels had amassed their largest lead 57-50, but the Jumbos chipped away, and with just a minute left, regained the lead 71-70. The Camels' Jahkeen Washington was fouled on a drive to the baseline with 50 seconds to go. He sank the shot and converted the three point play to put the Camels up two.
In what could have been a repeat of Friday night, with 35 seconds to play Stovell hit a layup to force the ninth tie of the game. But a foul at 2.4 seconds gave Rogers his chance to win the game on the line.
Rogers led the Camels with 16 points. Jeff Young and Charles Stone also contributed with double figures in scoring. Connecticut spread the scoring around relatively evenly, with all but one player having at least two points.
The Jumbos had four players in double figures - Stovell, Martin, O'Keefe, and freshman Jake Weitzen. The Jumbos performed well in the paint, scoring 14 to Connecticut's zero. However, in bench scoring, a crucial part of the Jumbos' attack, Tufts had only a one-point advantage over the Camels. A solid free-throw percentage at 17 of 19 was counteracted by 4-16 shooting from beyond the arc.
This loss puts Tufts' record at 11-7, with a 5-1 record in NESCAC play. Up next are away games tomorrow, Thursday, and Saturday at Keene State, UMass Dartmouth, and Bates respectively. The next home game for the Jumbos is Feb. 8 when visiting Newbury College comes to Cousens Gym.
