BOX
SCORE
MEDFORD, Mass. - Tufts senior Dave Beyel hit a long three-pointer
with 30 seconds remaining in the second half to break a 53-53 tie
and give the Tufts men's basketball team a 58-53 win against
Bowdoin College on Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gym.
Visiting Bowdoin, which received game-highs of 16 points and 11
rebounds from sophomore Will Hanley, dropped to 9-6 overall and 1-2
in the league. Senior tri-captain Dan Cook had five three-pointers
in the game and led Tufts with 15 points. The Jumbos stopped a
five-game losing streak and improved to 4-12 overall and 1-3 in
NESCAC.
After Beyel's go-ahead three-pointer, Bowdoin missed two threes at
the other end as time wound down under 20 seconds. However, Tufts
missed two free throws and Polar Bear Ben Olayinka grabbed the
rebound. After three Bowdoin time-outs, Polar Bear sophomore Ryan
O'Connell rimmed out a three-pointer and Tufts junior Sam Mason got
the rebound. He was fouled and hit two free throws to clinch
it.
The Jumbos had a 28-24 lead at halftime and went up seven early in
the second half on Cook's three-pointer, but the teams would play
very tightly for the rest of the period. Bowdoin took a 36-33
advantage on a three-pointer by senior tri-captain Mike Hauser, but
a three-pointer by Mason a minute later had Tufts up 38-36. After
an O'Connell three for Bowdoin and Beyel's trifecta for Tufts, the
teams were in their sixth tie of the second half at 51-51 with 2:36
to go. Bowdoin's Mark Phillips and Jon Pierce then traded baskets,
leading up to Beyel's eventual game-winner.
Pierce added 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Tufts,
which won despite shooting just 31.6 percent (18/57). However, they
were nine for 21 on threes (42.9 percent). Mason was big off the
bench for Tufts with 10, while Beyel finished with 11 points.
Phillips added 14 points and nine rebounds for Bowdoin, which was
playing under the direction of assistant coach Preston Beverly for
the second straight night as coach Tim Gilbride missed the trip due
to illness. O'Connell scored 10 points off the bench for the Polar
Bears.
