For the second time in five days, the men's basketball team has survived an epic 55-minute battle to emerge with a victory in the third overtime.
Fresh off their 88-81, triple-overtime victory over the MIT Engineers in Cambridge Saturday, the Jumbos took the floor at Cousens Gymnasium and topped the previously-undefeated Keene State Owls, 118-109.
Despite fouling out four of their starting five -- three in regulation and another in the first overtime period -- the Jumbos persevered.
Senior tri-captain Dave Shepherd, the only starter to survive to the third overtime, led the Jumbos down the stretch, making all six of his free throws in the final period. He finished with 21 points and a game-high seven assists.
Sophomore forward Jon Pierce was the other hero for the Jumbos. Pierce drained a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first overtime to keep the Jumbos alive, and went on to sink four shots from the charity stripe in the third overtime.
Pierce led all Jumbos with 22 points, and was part of a Tufts lineup that went 16 for 16 from the free throw line in the third OT.
Junior forward Jake Weitzen was impressive for the Jumbos in regulation, scoring 20 points before fouling out early in the first overtime. The other three Tufts foul-outs were junior guard Ryan O'Keefe and senior tri-captains Brian Kumf and Brian Fitzgerald.
A total of 75 fouls were committed in the game -- 40 from the Jumbos (5-2), and 35 from the Owls (5-1).
See tomorrow's Daily for further coverage.
- by Evans Clinchy
