After nabbing the seventh and final spot in the NESCAC playoffs last weekend, the men's basketball team fell in its first round game to the Williams College Ephs last night, by a score of 81-57. With the win, the Ephs move on to the second round of the NESCAC tournament, where they will take on fourth-seeded Amherst. The Jumbos finish the season with a 12-13 record, including a 3-7 mark in the NESCAC following last night's loss.
Williams opened the game slowly, shooting 11-29 (37.9 percent) including a 2-9 mark from three-point range (22.2 percent). The Ephs were also 0-4 from the free throw line in the opening frame. Taking advantage of Williams' poor shooting, Tufts shot 54.5 percent in the first half, to take a 28-24 lead into the second frame.
The second half proved to be a reversal of roles for the two teams, however, as Williams caught fire, while the Jumbos struggled to find their stroke. After their poor shooting in the opening half, the Ephs went 17-29 from the field, and shot a blistering 57.1 percent from beyond the arc. Williams also connected on 19-29 free throws in the second half.
The Jumbos, meanwhile, put forth an anemic offensive performance in the second period, shooting just 9-30 from the floor, good for 30 percent. Just as Tufts struggled from close range, it was having an equally difficult time from beyond the arc, going just 4-14.
Another key factor in the loss was free throw attempts. While Williams got 19 points from the free throw line, Tufts scored a mere seven from the charity stripe.
Williams outscored the Jumbos 57-29 in the second half, and cruised easily to the victory.
Ephmen sophomores Michael Crotty and Ben Coffin led all scorers with 19 points on the night, as four players for Williams were in double figures. The Jumbos were led by freshman center Craig Coupe, who poured in 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Unfortunately for Tufts, Coupe found himself in foul trouble and had to sit after picking up his fourth foul with 11 minutes remaining in the game.
Tufts' leading scorer on the season, junior Mike McGlynn, contributed 11 points on the night, far below his NESCAC average of 23.6 points. McGlynn also was in foul trouble, and ended up fouling out in the second half. Williams effectively contained one of Tufts biggest threats, holding junior Brian Shapiro, the team's second leading scorer, to zero points on only three shots. In his final game as a Jumbo, senior co-captain Bobby MacMannis added seven points and pulled in six boards. Junior Jim Wilson and freshman Reggie Stovell contributed eight and six points, respectively.
