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JUMBOS LOSE OPENER IN RESLER CLASSIC TO BROCKPORT, 60-55
COLLEGE MEN'S
BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Chuck Resler Classic
Brockport 60, Tufts 55
At Rochester, NY
Friday, November 20, 2009
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| Jon Pierce opened the season with 21 points and
seven rebounds for Tufts |
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Tufts men's basketball team battled back in its season opener against the University at Brockport, but lost 60-55 at the round robin Chuck Resler Tournament hosted by the University of Rochester on Friday afternoon.
The Jumbos trailed Brockport by 11, 47-36, at 11:14 of the second half after a basket by Golden Eagle Josh Zenkel. However, from there Tufts went on a 15-2 run and led 51-49 after grabbing two offensive rebounds and getting a lay-up from senior tri-captain Jon Pierce (Belmont, MA) with 5:05 remaining in the second half. Zenkel answered with a three at the other end and the Golden Eagles were able to maintain a slim lead for the rest of the game.
Pierce was the game-high scorer with 21 points and game-high rebounder with seven. Jermaine Johnson scored 20 points to lead Brockport.
Tufts was behind 30-21 at the break. After a slow start, they put together a 9-0 run to lead 11-10 on a basket by senior Dave Beyel (Ocean City, NJ) at 11:42. A trio of three-pointers helped Brockport during a 13-2 stretch for a 23-13 advantage after a trifecta by Zenkel with 5:17 to go until halftime. The first four points of Scott Anderson's (Sudbury, MA) Tufts career in the final four minutes helped the Jumbos close to within 23-19, but the Golden Eagles scored seven of the final seven points - five by Johnson - to lead by nine at intermission.
The Jumbos twice cut the gap to four points early in the second half. Junior guard Matt Galvin (Floral Park, NY) sank a three-pointer at 15:08 making it 38-34, and then Beyel's basket at 13:29 had the Jumbos within 40-36. A 7-0 Brockport stretch capped by Zenkel's basket gave them the 11-point margin (47-36). Pierce had four points and junior Sam Mason (York, ME) had four during the run that gave Tufts a brief lead.
Another three by Zenkel, who had three threes in the game, gave Brockport a 57-53 margin with 3:10 on the clock. Beyel (9 points, 6 rebounds) hit two free throws at 2:49 to make if 57-55. The teams went the next 2:33 without scoring, as Tufts missed four shots and two free throws, while Brockport missed three shots. The Jumbos missed three three-point attempts in the final 30 seconds, while the Golden Eagles added three free throws to seal the win.
Tufts dominated the battle of the boards 41-23, but shot just 35.4 percent (17/48) overall and turned it over 19 times. They were just four for 17 (23.5%) from three-point land. Brockport shot 43.8 percent (21/48) overall with just 11 turnovers. Brandon Williams (12 points) and Zenkel (11) both scored in double-figures for Brockport.
The Golden Eagles play Green Mountain on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
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