The Tufts men’s basketball team just wrapped up a weekend of hoops that could only be described as dominant, securing back-to-back road wins against Williams and Middlebury. Tufts dictated the pace and rhythm of each game while forcing opponents to play catch-up. Now riding a six-game win streak, the No. 9 Jumbos are 16–2 overall and a perfect 4–0 in NESCAC play.
Locking down Williams
Friday night in Williamstown, Mass., the Jumbos turned Chandler Gymnasium into a showcase of defensive brilliance. They dismantled the Ephs with a 59–46 victory that felt even more lopsided than the score suggests. Williams shot just 30.8% from the field, stifled by a Tufts defense that smothered everything in its path.
Junior forward Scott Gyimesi led the charge with 14 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Jon Medley — seemingly everywhere at once — racked up 6 points, six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. The Jumbos weaponized their defense to entirely shift the match. Case in point: Trailing 22–12 halfway through the first half, Tufts responded with a monstrous 22–2 run that flipped the game on its head. By the time the buzzer sounded for halftime, they were up 34–24, and Williams went scoreless in the last seven minutes.
Even a late-game push from the Ephs couldn’t crack the Jumbos’ composure. In the closing minutes, the team sank free throws to put the game out of reach. Four straight wins over Williams highlight a team that has found its rhythm and knows how to deliver against its NESCAC opponents. Tufts has turned consistency into an expectation, raising their own bar higher in each performance.
A clinic at Middlebury
Saturday brought a new opponent but the same result: a commanding 77–57 win over Middlebury. If Friday was all about defense, Saturday was an offensive showcase. Tufts shot a blistering 45% from the 3-point line, with junior guard James Morakis putting on a scoring clinic. Morakis, the second-leading scorer in NESCAC and Tufts’ top scorer, dropped 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting, breaking down any defense thrown toward him. Regarding his offensive consistency this season, Morakis credited the team’s unselfish style of play in an email to the Daily.
“The main key has been our style of play and the way we move and pass the ball as a team,” Morakis wrote. “Everyone has a great skill set and we all have been executing well. We have so many offensive weapons [that] it’s difficult for anyone to defend against all of them.”
Gyimesi kept the momentum rolling with another strong outing: 14 points and seven rebounds. Medley stayed true to his do-it-all reputation, chipping in 9 points, four assists, and two steals. The key to success was Tufts’ ability to turn defense into offense, converting 18 turnovers into 22 points. By halftime, the Jumbos led 36–20, a margin that left the Panthers struggling to find a way back into the game.
Tufts dominated the paint, outscoring Middlebury 40–22 and controlling the boards with authority. Every rebound and every second-chance opportunity added to the growing frustration of a Middlebury team that couldn’t find answers inside, unable to stop Tufts’ systematic offense. The Jumbos currently rank No. 1 in field goal percentage in NESCAC, fueled by the efficiency of junior center Joshua Bernstein and Gyimesi, who rank No. 1 and 2 in the conference in individual field goal percentage.
Milestones and momentum
Tufts has been setting new standards this season, carving their place in the university’s record books with consistency and excellence. With these two victories, Tufts improved to 9–0 on the road, marking the best start in program history. Their 4–0 NESCAC record? The best start since the 2016–17 season. The team currently ranks No. 2 in offense in NESCAC, scoring over 79 points on average per game.
Depth has been the unsung hero of this team. With Dylan Reilly’s sharpshooting, Medley’s versatility and Liam Kennelly’s defensive intensity, each of these sophomore guards highlights a roster where everyone has a role and everyone delivers. Morakis emphasized the importance of team chemistry in Tufts’ success.
“Coach Linton made a great decision last year and trusted his younger players,” Morakis wrote. “He started three sophomores and gave good minutes to some freshmen last year and got them ready to start this year. Today, we are a relatively young team and our chemistry has improved since last year and continues to improve game by game.”
Linton’s decision, mentioned by Morakis, is a critical factor in Tufts’ success this season. Confidence is an essential part of basketball — without it, players hesitate to take shots, doubt their defensive capabilities and struggle to contribute at their highest level. Linton’s decision to trust his younger players last season is paying dividends now. These same players are stepping up with poise, helping Tufts build a program that will likely be successful for years to come.
On Saturday, Tufts will return to Cousens Gymnasium to face Connecticut College. The Jumbos are locked in on extending the win streak and solidifying their place atop the conference standings.
