TUFTS RACES PAST PRIDE, 67-36

WESTON, Mass. – Tufts University defeated Regis College, 67-36, in non-conference men's basketball action on Tuesday night in Weston, Mass. The Jumbos improve to 2-1 on the young season, while Regis falls to 0-3.

Tufts jumped out to an early 5-1 lead following back-to-back layups by Scott Anderson (Sudbury, Mass.) and Ben Ferris (Essex Junction, Vt.). A Ferris three-pointer just over a minute later made it an 8-3 game, but the Pride's Carlos Bermudez-Glean (Boston, Mass.) converted on a layup and found Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.) on the next possession for a triple that bounced high off the rim and fell in, leaving the game tied at 8-8.

The Jumbos broke the stalemate on a Stephen Haladyna (Hamilton, Mass.) layup and Regis answered with a running jumper by Ahmad Charles (Cambridge, Mass.) knotting the game at 10-all. Both offenses stalled over the next six minutes with Tufts' Tom Palleschi (Haverhill, Mass.) and Haladyna registering the only two baskets from the 13:29 mark of the period to the 7:45 mark.

Mario Payne (Boston, Mass.) stopped the scoreless streak for Regis with a jumper from the elbow, making it a 14-12 game. The teams traded baskets and a pair of Kwame Firempong (Inglewood, Calif.) freethrows extended the Tufts lead to 18-14 with 4:17 remaining in the opening half. The freebies sparked a 9-2 run as the Jumbos entered the break with a 27-16 lead.

Tufts' Scott Anderson led all scorers at the half with seven points, while Matt Lanchantin (Natick, Mass.) registered seven rebounds in the period. Bermudez-Glean led the Pride with six points, while Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y.) had three points and four rebounds.

The Jumbos wasted no time in the second half as they opened the period on a 16-3 run to take a 43-19 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game. The Pride cut it to a 19 point deficit on a three from Ryan Chambers, but that would be as close as Regis would get as Tufts held a lead as large as 36 points en route to the 67-36 victory.

Tufts won the rebounding battle, 36-25, and only committed 14 turnovers to the Pride's 21 missteps. The Jumbos turned those into 26 points off turnovers and held a 30-10 lead in points in the paint.

Regis was led by eight points on 3-for-4 shooting from Ryan Chambers. Ahmad Charles added seven points, while Ethan Peana and Mario Payne (Boston, Mass.) led the Pride with four rebounds apiece. Freshmen Chris Keaton (Beverly, Mass.), Steve Mopsikoff (Palmdale, Calif.) and Biruk Legesse (Marion, Mass.) each registered their first baskets in a Pride uniform.

The Jumbos were led by a double-double effort from Matt Lanchantin, who posted 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Scott Anderson joined him in double-figures, while Ben Ferris and Kwame Firempong each added eight points apiece. C.J. Moss (Westport, Mass.) had six points and five assists as all 13 players who checked into the game for Tufts scored at least two points.

The Crimson and Gold return to action next Tuesday night as the Pride hosts Westfield State University in a non-conference matchup at 7:00 p.m. The Jumbos take on Brandeis University as a part of the Big Four Tournament at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night at Brandeis.