Playing in a game that had almost crucial implications to the Jumbos' NESCAC chances in a hostile gym on the road, Tufts needed a good start to quiet the crowd.
Yet, when the Jumbos looked up at the scoreboard with 11:23 left in the first half, after Bates senior Victor Rivera sank his first free throw, they were confronted with an ugly sight: a 26-12 deficit.
Just like that, the long drive up to Lewiston, Maine, seemed like a waste of time as the Jumbos were in danger of falling behind the crowded pack at the top of the NESCAC standings.
Yet, the team did not panic.
"We were a little rusty to start, but our guys know what we can do," senior tri-captain Reggie Stovell said. "We're a good team. Good teams play hard throughout. That's why being down 14 didn't hurt us. We knew there was plenty of basketball to play."
The team's patience was rewarded as things turned around in a hurry. After Rivera missed his second free throw, the Jumbos set their offense and senior Andrew Kaklamanos found sophomore Brian Kumf for a layup.
The inside basket got the Jumbos rolling, as they hit five shots in a row, including a three-pointer by freshman Jake Weitzen. With 8:26 remaining in the half, the lead was 29-23.
At that point, the Jumbos lost their hot touch, going four plus minutes without a field goal and missing five shots in a row. That's when the defense took over, however.
Over that stretch, the Jumbos forced three turnovers and only allowed the Bobcats to shoot 1-4 from the floor.
The Jumbos also made six of seven free throws to help them wrestle the lead away from the Bobcats.
When junior Dan Martin hit a jumper, Tufts was down only three at 31-28 and it would eventually cap off its 25-9 run with a jumper by junior Brian Fitzgerald to give the team a two-point lead with 1:10 left in the half.
The run was a sign of things to come, as the Jumbos would outscore the Bobcats 41-32 in the second half.
Stovell was right. There was plenty of basketball left and when time had run out, the Jumbos had a better sight to look at on the scoreboard.
-by Nate Grubman
