Men's Basketball Falls Short in Closing Seconds against Tufts

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University men's basketball team had the ball with ten seconds remaining in regulation, but could not get a shot off as Tufts University held on for a 90-89 victory in non-conference action at the Athletic Center. 

THE BASICS:

- Score:  Tufts 90, Framingham State 89

- Records: Framingham State (1-8), Tufts (4-5)

- Location: Athletic Center – Framingham, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The two teams traded the lead over the first nine minutes of the game, but a three from senior Charles Valbrun (Hyde Park, Mass.) put the Rams ahead 21-17 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the frame.
• The Jumbos answered with a 19-4 run over the next five minutes to take a 36-25 lead with just over six remaining in the period. The run was capped by a jumper from freshman Tyler Aronson (Holliston, Mass.).  Aronson paced the Jumbos with 13 first half points as the visitors led 52-43 at the half.
• Tufts led 70-60 on a made layup from Carson Cohen (Pittsburg, Pa.) with just over 13 minutes remaining in the second half, but the Rams used a 12-0 run capped by a three from senior Manny Payton (Fitchburg, Mass.) to take a 72-70 lead with 10:43 on the clock.
• The two teams would trade points over the next five minutes with the Rams largest lead being five before the Jumbos tied the game at 83-83 on a Brennan Morris (East Hemstead, N.H.) jumper with four minutes to go.
• With the game tied at 85-85, a layup from freshman Jared Gordon-Anderson (Framingham, Mass.) put the Rams ahead by two.  Will Brady (Ridgefield, Conn.) answered with a three for Tufts with 1:30 on the clock putting the visitors up 88-87.
• A layup from Luke Rogers (Boxborough, Mass.) with 53 seconds on the clock extended the Tufts lead to three, but a Payton bucket cut the lead back to one, 90-89, with 44 ticks on the clock.
• Tufts missed a jumper on their next possession and senior Khaneil Bruce (Cambridge, Mass.) secured the rebound for the Rams with 10.8 seconds on the clock.  The Rams called timeout, but turned the ball over with two seconds remaining without taking a shot giving Tufts the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Payton paced the Rams with a game-high 32 points, six rebounds, six assists and a steal. Payton connected on 14-of-27 from the floor including four-of-eight from behind the arc.
• Gordon-Anderson finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals off the bench for the Rams, while sophomore Cameren McCloud-Thomas (Springfield, Mass.) added 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Bruce finished the game with four points and a team-best nine boards.
• Brady led five Jumbos in double figures with 19 points including connecting on five-of-seven from behind the arc.
• Aronson and Cohen finished with 17 points apiece, while Rogers finished the game with 14 points and six rebounds.  Morris chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.
• Both teams shot well from the floor in the game with the Rams connecting on 54% of their offerings including 47% from behind the arc. Tufts, who shot 50% and 58% from three in the first half, finished the game shooting 47% from the floor and 46% from behind the arc.

UP NEXT:

The Rams are back in action on Friday night when they host Gordon College at 7 p.m., while the Jumbos are idle until December 28^th when they face Gwynedd Mercy at the Tournament of Heroes.