Tufts Men's Basketball Advances to Sweet 16 With 88-80 Win Over Skidmore

Stephen Haladyna was a key contributor for the Jumbos with 18 points.

MEDFORD –  Senior tri-captains Ryan Spadaford and Stephen Haladyna combined for 32 points and junior tri-captain Tom Palleschi turned in his seventh double-double of the season as the No. 20 Tufts men's basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 by winning an NCAA Tournament Second Round game over Skidmore, 88-80, in Cousens Gym on Saturday night.  The Jumbos advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2005-06 season after winning their first two home NCAA Tournament games at Cousens Gym.

Tufts topped Southern Vermont on Friday night in first round action, 78-76, as Skidmore downed Franklin and Marshall, 83-72, in the other first round game.  The Jumbos now advance to play Johnson and Wales next weekend at a site to be determined.

Things were about as close as they could be early, as the Thoroughbreds and Jumbos traded the lead back and forth five times in the first seven minutes of play.  The Jumbos took a six point lead after junior Tarik Smith sunk two free throws, Palleschi drained one from downtown and Spadaford made a layup to move the score to 24-18 with 10:55 left in the first half.

But Skidmore answered back, as Jack Morrow made a layup and Isaac Carp tipped one in and then Edvinas Rupkus made a three to give the Thoroughbreds the one point lead with 9:16 left in the half.  The Thoroughbreds would not relinquish that lead for the duration of the first half, leading by 12 four different times during the next six minutes of play.

The Jumbos chipped away at that lead, as Palleschi made two free throws and Haladyna made a three to cut the lead to seven with 1:37 left in the first half.  Smith made one-of-two free throws at the line and Spadaford sunk two to cut the deficit to four, 45-41, with 57 seconds left on the clock. The Thoroughbreds and Jumbos traded points to end the first half, as the Jumbos went into the locker room down by four, 47-43.

The Jumbos came out of the intermission on fire, and immediately took the lead as Halaydyna and Spadaford each made two free throws to tie the game at 47 just under two minutes into the second half.  Spadaford added a layup a minute later, and Palleschi followed that with a jumper of his own and the Jumbos had a four point lead, 51-47 just under five mintues into the second half.

But Skidmore would not go away, and Erik Sanders made a three and then Rupkus made two from the charity stipe to take the one point advantage.  With 12:59 left on the clock the Jumbos tied the game again, the eighth and final time the game would be tied, thanks to a three by freshman Ethan Feldman.  The Thoroughbreds took the lead back courtesy of six points from Rupkus, but with 7:23 remaining Feldman drained another three to take the lead and the Jumbos would not relinquish it.

With 4:12 remaining on the clock Smith made a three that gave the Jumbos the ten-point lead, 78-68.  The Thoroughbreds would not give up, and tried to chip away at the Jumbo lead, but Tufts held on for the 88-80 win.

Rupkus finished with a game-high 28 points for the Thoroughbreds and added eight rebounds to his effort. Sanders finished with a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds. Paris helped with ten points, three assists and two steals.

Palleschi led the Jumbos with 19 points and 12 rebounds and added five blocks to his night.  Haladyna had 18 points and seven rebounds while fellow classmate and captain, Spadaford, finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.  Smith fouled out of the contest with 14 points and four assists. Feldman, who scored a career-high ten off the bench last night, came through with a new career high 14 off the bench tonight for the Jumbos, including making four-of-five from downtown.

The Jumbos will now await the host site for next weeks Sweet 16 match.  Johnson and Wales, who was ranked No. 12 in the most recent D3hoops.com national poll, advanced to the Sweet 16 with an 86-74 win over Fitchburg State.