The men's basketball team bounced back from its devastating road loss at Bates over the weekend, thoroughly dominating the Wheaton Lyons en route to its 10th win of the season.
After scoring just 12 points in the first half of Saturday's 72-44 loss, the Jumbos responded with authority, dropping a season-high 52 on the Lyons in the first stanza before cruising to an 89-74 win. Tufts led by more than 20 points for most of the game, until coach Bob Sheldon emptied his bench in the final minutes.
Junior forward Jake Weitzen led the way for the Jumbos with 21 points, giving him 244 for the season and 982 for his career, setting up a potential milestone weekend in Connecticut, as Weitzen will go for the 1,000 mark at Connecticut College Friday night.
Weitzen and senior tri-captain Dave Shepherd were both a perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the three-point arc, as a total of 11 Jumbos attempted threes on the night. Junior guard Ryan O'Keefe also contributed 13 points, while sophomore forward Jon Pierce reached double figures, contributing 11 points off the bench.
The Lyons struggled offensively, making just 42 percent of their shots, including a hideous 2-for-14 clip from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Jaxon Leo was 0 for 5 on his three-point attempts, while the Lyons' leading scorer, senior captain Brian Zukowski, was 1 for 4.
After heading to New London Friday night, the Jumbos will take on Wesleyan this Saturday in the second half of their NESCAC weekend. With a record of 1-2 in the league, coach Bob Sheldon's squad needs to sweep the weekend games if it wants to get back above .500.
See Friday's Daily for further coverage.
-by Evans Clinchy
