Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn.--Senior guard Ryan Spadaford (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) poured in game-high 18 points and had seven rebounds to lead the 19th ranked Tufts University men's basketball team to an 83-81 victory at Connecticut College Saturday.
Tufts improved its record to 13-4 and are 4-2 in NESCAC play. The Camels fell to 12-6 and are 3-3 in conference play.
Junior center Tom Palleschi (Haverhill, Mass.) and senior guard Stephen Haladyna (South Hamilton, Mass.) chipped in with 12 points each for the winnings side. Palleschi was 6-for-10 from the field and added eight rebounds for the victors. Tarik Smith (Bronx, N.Y.) added 11 points in the victory for the Jumbos.
Sophomore Isaiah Robinson (Lynn, Mass.) poured in a team-best 17 points for the Camels, shooting 7-for-11 from the field. Junior Daniel Janel (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) had a nice day in the front court for the Camels, shooting 6-for-10 from the field en route to his 15 points. David Labossiere (Stoneham, Mass.) had 13 points and three rebounds for the hosts.
Zuri Pavlin (New York, N.Y.) registered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
"Congratulations to Tufts," Connecticut College Head Men's Basketball Coach Tom Satran said. "Certainly our team is disappointed in the outcome. We had a chance to pull away when we were up ten I think in the second half but couldn't convert a few good shots and they came right back. We had our opportunities."
Connecticut College carried a 42-41 lead at the half. In the second stanza, Robinson knocked down a jumper with eight minutes left to extend the lead to 73-63. But Tufts battled back with 13-2 run to take their first lead of the half at 76-75 when Palleschi put in a 14 foot turnaround jumper with 4:19 to go.
Later on with 22 seconds left, Spadaford put in a pair of free throws that made it an 82-79 lead for the visitors. Tyler Rowe (East Hartford, Conn.) put in a jumper from the center of the lane with 12 seconds left to trim the deficit to 82-81.
But Spadaford added a foul shot with 11 seconds left and the Jumbos were able to hold on for the 83-81 win.
