Martin Paces Tufts to First Round Victory Over Colby in Men's Basketball Championship
Courtesy Tufts Sports Information
MEDFORD, Mass. – Junior center Dan Martin (Sandwich, MA) poured in 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a career-best performance as the Tufts University Jumbos pulled away for a 99-88 victory over the Colby College Mules in the first round of the NESCAC men’s basketball tournament on Saturday afternoon.
Tufts (16-9), the second seed, advances to play third-seed Bates College in the tournament semi-finals at Amherst College next Saturday (Feb. 26) at 4:00. Colby, the #7 seed, finishes its season with a 14-8 record.
A hotly contested game in front of 800 fans at Cousen Gym saw host Tufts leading 39-36 at the half. The Jumbos were able to take charge and maintain their lead in the second half thanks in great part to free throw shooting. Tufts connected on 30 of 34 free throw attempts (88.2 percent) in the second half when 23 fouls were whistled against the Mules. Martin was 7 for 7 from the line in the second half.
After Tufts held a small lead early in the first half, Colby mounted a 9-2 run that gave them a 22-15 advantage on a free throw by senior captain Pat McGowan (North Attleboro, MA) with 11:33 on the clock. He had six points during the spurt. Tufts came back to tie the score at 26-26 on a lay-up by Martin at 6:56. Another lay-up by Martin and a jumper by senior co-captain Drew Kaklamanos (Jupiter, FL) in the final minute of the half gave the Jumbos their three-point lead.
Tufts quickly pushed the margin to 10 points (48-38) early in the second half with a 9-2 run capped by a three-pointer from sophomore guard David Shepherd (Grantham, NH) at 17:50. The Jumbos were able to keep the Mules at an arm’s length from that point. Colby was within five points, 56-51, following two free throws by junior Michael Westbrooks (Dublin, Ireland) at 12:07. The Jumbos ripped off an 8-2 spurt highlighted by a three-pointer from freshman Jake Weitzen (New York, NY) that gave them a 64-53 lead with 10:24 to play. A Westbrooks lay-up pulled Colby within nine (66-57) at 8:26, but five straight points by Martin put Tufts up 71-57 and they would lead by double digits the rest of the way.
Fifty-five fouls in total were called in the game, with four Colby starters fouling out. The Mules also shot their freebies well, netting 19 of 21 overall for a 90.5 percentage. Tufts earned a huge 57-36 advantage in rebounds, with senior tri-captain Reggie Stovell (Washington, DC) adding nine to the cause.
Five Jumbos scored in double figures, with sophomore Brian Kumf (Milford, MA) totaling 18 including an 8 for 8 day at the line. Shepherd, NESCAC’s assists leader, added 11 helpers.
McGowan led Colby with 28 points in the last game of his collegiate career. Sophomore Nick Farrell (Kennebunk, ME), the only Colby starter who did not foul out, finished with 20 points.
