It appeared that a different team showed up to Saturday's game against Bates than the one that soundly defeated Trinity and nearly overcame Amherst last weekend.
The men's basketball team turned the page on a heartbreaking 96-92 overtime loss to Amherst, the No. 2 team in the nation, with a 102-85 victory over Trinity on Saturday.
"Just like last year," men's basketball coach Bob Sheldon said Friday night, minutes after his team's devastating overtime loss to the Amherst Lord Jeffs. "One shot away from winning the game."
The floor of Cousens Gymnasium, though largely untested, has certainly been good to the women's basketball team this year. Playing only their second game of the season at home, the Jumbos blew by the Wellesley Blue, 90-45, on Saturday, posting a 30-plus point margin for the second straight game and scoring 90 points for the first time since November 2003.
No overtime required.
After enduring two weeks of rocky play that left it at 2-2, the men's basketball team may have had some doubts. But after this week, the Jumbos now know one thing for sure.
The MIT men's basketball team kicked off its post-Thanksgiving schedule with three straight road wins and returned home Saturday looking to improve to 5-2 against a Tufts squad that had yet to win consecutive games this season.
The men's basketball team overcame a sloppy first-half performance to take a non-conference game against the Springfield Pride (2-2) in Cousens Gym on Tuesday, 77-61. The Jumbos' newfound defensive strength and talent and depth on the offensive end overwhelmed the Pride in the second half en route to the team's third victory of the young season.
It was a familiar scene at halftime for the Jumbos on Tuesday night, as they entered intermission with the lead for the third straight game this season.
The men's basketball team overcame a sloppy first-half performance to hand Springfield (2-2) its second loss of the season, 77-61, and move above .500 at 3-2. In a game marred by turnovers and questionable officiating, the Jumos' depth and talent overwhelmed the Pride in the second half. Sophomore Jon Pierce led all scorers with 20 points, 16 in the first half while freshman Pat Crean was led Springfield with 16.
The men's basketball team split its opening weekend of play at Cousens Gym, rallying to sink Lasell on Friday night before falling to tournament champion Rhode Island College on Saturday afternoon.
The women's basketball team started its season off with a split billing at the Endicott College Tip-Off Tournament, taking a game from host Endicott in the consolation bracket after losing to local rival Suffolk Friday night.
Six of the 14 players in Jumbo uniform on Friday will be wearing the brown-and-blue for the first time.
A new school record for wins, a near-miss at the NESCAC title and a storybook trip to the national Sweet Sixteen is a tough act to follow.
A jaw-dropping shot by Amherst sophomore Andrew Olson put the brakes on the men's basketball team's season, but not before the Jumbos put together the greatest run in school history.
Senior tri-captain Dan Martin entered Tufts as a highly touted recruit. He left as the best player on the best team in Tufts history.
This was a season of firsts for the men's basketball team.
The only thing standing between the men's basketball team and an Elite Eight berth was the luckiest shot of Andrew Olson's life.
The men's basketball team came within just seconds of an appearance in the Elite Eight on Friday night.
This Friday, the men's basketball team will be out to prove that the third time really is a charm.
