The Jeffs (22-1 overall), ranked fourth in the D3Hoops.com national poll, finished the NESCAC schedule with a perfect 9-0 mark. They have won 15 games in a row. Tufts, the surprise team in NESCAC this year after winning only two conference games last season, dropped to 15-9 overall and will be the second seed in the tournament with their 7-2 league record.
The meeting between first-place Amherst and second-place Tufts in the regular-season finale for both had plenty of pre-game build-up, with the winner earning the regular-season crown. However, visiting Amherst lit it up in the first half and took any excitement away from a near capacity crowd at Tufts’ Cousens Gym. The Lord Jeffs shot over 70 percent for most of the first half and were 17 for 26 at halftime (65.4 percent). They led as large as 44-21 on a lay-up by senior co-captain Andrew Schiel (Wayne, PA) with 3:38 on the clock. Senior Russell Lee (Lorton, VA) led Amherst with 12 points in the first half, including two of their seven three-pointers.
The Jumbos were fortunate to trail only 48-34 at the break, thanks to a three-point play by freshman Jake Weitzen (New York, NY) late in the half. His 10 points led the Jumbos at the half as the Jeffs were able to hold Tufts leading scorer Reggie Stovell (Washington, DC) to four points in the first 20 minutes.
The Amherst lead was back over 20 after they opened the second half with an 8-1 run that produced a 56-35 score. Two free throws by Stovell at the other end brought the margin down to 19 (56-37), but a three-pointer by Jeffs freshman guard Andrew Olson (San Diego, CA) made it 59-37 and it was all Amherst from there. The lead hit 32 on a three by junior John Bedford (Ridgewood, NJ) at the 12-minute mark, and it peaked at 37 points twice.
Lee led the winners with 18 points, including four three-pointers. The Jeffs finished at 51.5 percent from the floor (34/66), with Bedford hitting 5 of 8 and tallying 14 points. Schiel also scored 14 to go with a game-high nine rebounds. The Jeffs were 11 for 23 (47.8%) from three-land.
Tufts, on the other hand, shot just 29.6 percent overall (21/71) and was 3 for 19 from behind the arch. Stovell led the Jumbos with 16 points and added six rebounds. Weitzen was the only other Tufts player in double figures with his 10 points. Junior center Dan Martin (Sandwich, MA) finished with eight points and six rebounds.
The NESCAC tournament begins with first-round play next Saturday (Feb. 19). Top seed Amherst will host Bowdoin and #2 seed Tufts welcomes #7 Colby College. Both games tip off at 3:00.
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Newspaper Box Score Amherst Lord Jeffs vs Tufts Jumbos 2/12/05 3:00 pm at Medford, MA At Medford, MA AMHERST LORD JEFFS 94, TUFTS JUMBOS 61 AMHERST LORD JEFFS (22-1, 9-0 NESCAC) Russell Lee 6-9 2-4 18; Andrew Schiel 5-12 3-3 14; John Bedford 5-8 3-4 14; Kevin Hopkins 4-7 1-2 9; John Casnocha 1-4 6-6 9; Andrew Olson 4-6 0-0 9; Dan Wheeler 3-5 0-0 8; Dan O'Shea 2-3 0-0 4; Tim McLaughlin 1-1 0-0 3; Matt Goldsmith 1-2 0-0 2; Mike Salerno 1-3 0-0 2; Brandon Jones 1-4 0-0 2; Keith Zalaski 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 34-66 15-19 94. TUFTS JUMBOS (15-9, 7-2 NESCAC) Reggie Stovell 4-10 6-8 16; Jake Weitzen 4-7 1-1 10; Dan Martin 4-10 0-0 8; Brian Kumf 3-11 1-1 7; Ryan O'Keefe 3-13 0-0 6; Drew Kaklamanos 1-7 3-4 5; David Shepherd 2-5 1-2 5; Jesse Belodoff 0-1 2-2 2; Brian Fitzgerald 0-1 2-2 2; Pat Sullivan 0-2 0-0 0; Casey D'Annolfo 0-1 0-0 0; Jason Grauer 0-3 0-1 0. Totals 21-71 16-21 61. Amherst Lord Jeffs............ 48 46 - 94 Tufts Jumbos.................. 34 27 - 61 3-point goals-Amherst Lord Jeffs 11-23 (Russell Lee 4-7; Dan Wheeler 2-3; John Bedford 1-2; Tim McLaughlin 1-1; Andrew Olson 1-2; John Casnocha 1-2; Andrew Schiel 1-3; Keith Zalaski 0-1; Brandon Jones 0-2), Tufts Jumbos 3-19 (Reggie Stovell 2-3; Jake Weitzen 1-2; Ryan O'Keefe 0-2; Drew Kaklamanos 0-4; David Shepherd 0-2; Pat Sullivan 0-2; Casey D'Annolfo 0-1; Jason Grauer 0-1; Dan Martin 0-2). Fouled out--Amherst Lord Jeffs-None, Tufts Jumbos-None. Rebounds-Amherst Lord Jeffs 45 (Andrew Schiel 9), Tufts Jumbos 38 (Dan Martin 6; Reggie Stovell 6; Brian Kumf 6). Assists-Amherst Lord Jeffs 22 (Andrew Olson 5), Tufts Jumbos 11 (David Shepherd 6). Total fouls-Amherst Lord Jeffs 22, Tufts Jumbos 16. A-600