The Tufts men’s basketball team faced its toughest weekend of the season, dropping two hard-fought road matchups against top-ranked Wesleyan University and No. 16 Trinity College. A heartbreaking 69–66 loss at Wesleyan on Friday was followed by an 81–45 defeat at Trinity on Saturday. The Jumbos now sit at 17–4 overall and 5–2 in NESCAC play as they look to rebound from their first back-to-back losses of the season.
A Battle in Middletown
In what was likely the most anticipated regular season game in years, two dominant teams went head-to-head in a battle for NESCAC supremacy. Facing the No. 1 team in Division 3 basketball, Tufts showed they belonged. The Jumbos led for large stretches of the game, carrying a 36–32 advantage into halftime and extending it to 5 points 11 minutes through the second half. But down the stretch, Wesleyan capitalized on Tufts’ scoring drought, closing the game on an 18–10 run to edge out a three-point win. “I think Wesleyan’s a great team but that game proved to us that we are more than capable of beating them when we see them next,” junior center Joshua Bernstein wrote in a message to the Daily. “The closing minutes proved true of that. It was as simple as the ball just not bouncing our way on some of those possessions towards the end along with some fouls that we need to be better about avoiding. Overall, I know that the next time we see them we won’t put ourselves in the position to have to win in the last few minutes of the game.”
Junior guard James Morakis led the Jumbos with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, continuing his stellar season. Sophomore guard Dylan Reilly hit four three-pointers for 12 points, while junior forward Scott Gyimesi added 9 points and six rebounds. The Jumbos shot a respectable 46.6% from the field but struggled from the free-throw line, making just four attempts compared to the Cardinals’ 18. Wesleyan consistently found ways to draw contact and get to the line, while Tufts struggled to generate those same opportunities.
Tufts faltered in a few key areas that ultimately cost them the game. “We did not handle playing through pressure well enough as it forced us into rushed shots and turnovers,” Head Coach Brandon Linton explained in an email to the Daily. Wesleyan capitalized on Tufts’ 13 turnovers, converting them into 16 points and controlled the glass to limit Tufts’ second-chance opportunities. The biggest challenge, however, was containing senior guard Shane Regan, who dictated the game with his scoring. Regan repeatedly found openings in Tufts’ defense, using his size and speed to exploit mismatches. He proved difficult to contain, his space creation in the mid-range leading to a game-high 23 points. Tufts’ defense had its moments, forcing Wesleyan into a few scoring droughts, but in the decisive moments, they couldn’t find an answer for Regan’s squad. Key free-throws in the final stretch kept Tufts at arm’s length, ending the game in a three-point deficit.
A Tough Afternoon at Trinity
Less than 20 hours after their battle with Wesleyan, Tufts ran into a Trinity team firing on all cylinders. The Bantams overwhelmed the Jumbos with defensive pressure, holding Tufts to 30.8% from the field and just 14.3% from three. The result: an 81–45 loss, Tufts’ most lopsided defeat of the season. The quick turnaround from the previous night’s game against Wesleyan is a valid excuse, but Tufts simply struggled to match Trinity’s intensity from the start. The loss exposed weaknesses in Tufts’ ability to handle aggressive, physical defenses. Trinity disrupted passing lanes, forced rushed shots and made the Jumbos uncomfortable from the opening tip.
Gyimesi led Tufts with 8 points and 10 rebounds, while Reilly and sophomore guard Liam Kennelly added 7 and 6 points, respectively. The Jumbos were never able to get their offense in rhythm, trailing by 15 points at halftime before the Bantams pulled away with a dominant second half. Unlike their competitive showing against Wesleyan, Tufts was unable to mount any sustained runs, and every attempted comeback was met with a quick response from Trinity.
The Bantams were led by junior guards Henry Vetter and Drew Lazarre, combining for 41 points. Trinity’s depth was on full display, as their bench outscored Tufts’ reserves 31–22. They also dominated the rebounding battle, 42–33, while securing 12 offensive boards. Turnovers also played a major role, as Tufts committed multiple unforced errors that led directly to easy Trinity baskets. In a game where every mistake was punished, Tufts struggled to find a rhythm or a counter to Trinity’s relentless attack.
Looking Forward
Despite the tough weekend, Tufts remains a force in NESCAC play. The Jumbos still rank third in NESCAC in average margin, outscoring opponents by an average of 11.9 points per game. Their balanced play has kept them among the conference’s top teams. While the losses to Wesleyan and Trinity exposed areas for improvement, they also serve as a crucial learning experience as the Tufts team prepares for the final stretch run of the season. Coach Linton emphasized the importance of staying grounded: “Continue to stay the course and stay true to who we are as a program. A bad 24 hours isn’t reason to overreact as we head into the final stretch of the season.” A return to form could be all that’s needed to get the Jumbos back on track as they push toward the postseason.
With the regular season winding down, Tufts will look to regroup as they return home to face Amherst College on Friday. Linton will undoubtedly emphasize tightening up ball security, improving shot selection and finding ways to generate more free-throw opportunities. This roster still has every opportunity to make a deep postseason run, provided they make the necessary adjustments from this past weekend.
