The Tufts men’s basketball team continues to demonstrate why they’re one of the top NCAA Division III programs. After a Sweet 16 run last year and a blazing 5–0 start this season, Tufts faced their first setback against No. 20 Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Saturday in a hard-fought 74–61 loss at home. But the mark of a good team is its ability to bounce back and that’s just what Tufts did. In emphatic fashion, they dismantled Emmanuel College 86–51 on the road on Monday.
Lessons from the WPI clash
In a matchup of ranked teams on Saturday afternoon, the No. 8 Tufts met their match. Hosting the Engineers in Cousens Gymnasium, the Jumbos suffered its first loss of the season, falling 74–61 to a disciplined and opportunist Engineers squad. The result highlighted the level of competition of top-tier Division III teams and provided the Jumbos with lessons to build upon as they navigate their promising season.
The game started as a defensive grind, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The Engineers opened up a 10-point lead late in the first half, but the Jumbos responded with a 9–0 run, capped by a layup from junior guard James Morakis, cutting the deficit to 1 point. Junior guard Sidney Wooten’s 3-pointer moments later gave the Jumbos its first lead since early in the game, and junior center Joshua Bernstein’s bucket in the final seconds sent the Jumbos into the break up 31–30.
It was a brief glimpse of control in a game where momentum swung wildly. Despite leading at halftime, Tufts shot just 39.3% from the field, with turnovers and missed free throws hurting their offensive efficiency.
Tufts looked sharp coming out of the locker room, extending its lead to 6 points early in the second half on a 3-point play from junior forward Scott Gyimesi. But WPI quickly countered, tying the game at 41 points and regaining the lead on a bucket by guard Nicholas Margetson. The turning point came midway through the half: A 9–0 Engineer run over two minutes pushed their lead to double digits, and the Jumbos couldn’t recover.
The Engineers’ ability to execute in critical moments made the difference, and their defense stifled the Jumbos in the final stretch. WPI capitalized on free throws, going 25 for 29 from the line compared to Tufts’ 7 for 12. WPI was able to control the pace of the game and exploit Tufts’ turnovers with some excellent playmaking. The Engineers scored 18 points off turnovers, turning Jumbos’ miscues into easy buckets on the other end.
Morakis was the standout for Tufts, leading all scorers with 20 points and shooting 8 for 14 from the field. He added four rebounds and four assists in a performance that exemplified his growing role. Sophomore guard Dylan Reilly knocked down three triples, while Gyimesi recorded another double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Bernstein anchored the defense with six boards and five blocks, but it wasn’t enough to offset the team’s shooting struggles. The Jumbos hit just 30% from beyond the arc and managed only 8 points off turnovers, well below their season average of 16.1.
Emmanuel: The response
In an email to the Daily, Reilly noted that “Every team will experience adversity at some point, how we choose to respond to it is what matters.” And respond they did.
Three days later, Tufts delivered a masterclass performance, dominating Emmanuel College 86–51 at the Jean Yawkey Center. From the opening tip, the Jumbos controlled every aspect of the game, racing to a 44–28 halftime lead and never letting up.
Gyimesi was once again the catalyst, leading the way with 23 points and shooting 10 for 14 from the field, along with eight rebounds and five assists. Morakis added 18 points and six rebounds, consistently hunting mismatches against smaller Emmanuel guards. Reilly continued his strong play, knocking down three triples en route to 11 points.
Tufts shot 52.2% from the field while holding Emmanuel to just 31.1%, including a stifling 20% from 3-point range. The Jumbos also won the rebounding battle decisively, grabbing 49 boards to the Saints’ 31. The continued intensity of the unit forced 11 turnovers, converting them into 16 points, while their unselfish play led to 23 assists on 36 field goals.
With the blowout win, the Jumbos improved to 6–1 on the year and showed their ability to make adjustments following a loss. As Tufts prepares for their matchup against Keene State tonight, the team’s goal remains clear. “Our focus is to be consistent and get better every single day together,” Reilly emphasized.
Tufts’ next game will be held tonight in Cousens Gymnasium. After a week that highlighted both the challenges and the promises of this season, the Jumbos will face off against the undefeated No. 7 Owls. The key to the victory will likely be containing guard Octavio Brito, who is leading his team with over 20 points a game. The meeting gives Tufts a chance to build on their strong start in what could be their toughest matchup of the early season.
