MEDFORD, Mass. – Colby College first-year Wallace Tucker had 19 points and six assists, but Tufts University used an advantage on the boards to take a 94-83 win over the Mules in the NESCAC opener for both teams Friday.

Colby, which plays at Bates College on Saturday at 3 p.m., drops to 7-4 overall and 0-1 in the league. The Jumbos are 10-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Game highlights

* Both the Mules and the Jumbos traded points and the lead early, and with the game tied at 13 about five minutes into the first half, senior Thomas Lapham sunk a three that gave the Jumbos a 16-13 lead.  

* The Jumbos lead by 11 with just about 12 minutes remaining in the half, when the Mules made a comeback.  Tucker made two free throws, and Sam Jefferson added a layup.  That was followed by a layup from Tucker, and then two from Pat Dickert (pictured) brought the Mules within three, 33-30, with 9:25 left in the half. 

* A jumper from sophomore Miles Bowser stopped the streak of eight unanswered Mule points, but then Jefferson added another layup and made the free throw after to cut the Jumbos lead to two, 35-33.  But, that would be as close as Colby would get, as Tufts then scored 11 unanswered of their own to increase their lead.  Tufts took the 50-36 advantage into the break. 

* The Mules were once again able to cut the lead a bit at the beginning of the second half.  With the Jumbos up, 56-41, Colby got back-to-back threes from Tucker.  After a Jumbo layup from sophomore Patrick Racy, the visitors scored eight points to cut the Jumbo lead to five, 58-53, about four minutes into the second half.  

* With the Jumbos up by five with 15:31 left in the game, a layup from sophomore Eric Savage was followed by a three and a layup from Pace.  After a layup by the Mules’ Sean Gilmore, Everett Dayton added a three for the Jumbos to increase their lead to 13 with just over 12 minutes left in the game.  They would hold on to that lead for the 94-83 win. 

By the numbers

* Tucker shot 7-for-13 from the field, made all three of his 3-point shots, and made two steals.

* Dean Weiner had a double-double for the Mules with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots. Gilmore added 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting and Jefferson added 10 points. Dickert finished with nine points and eight rebounds.

* Tufts seniors Vincent Pace and Dayton both had 22 points.

Box

http://gocolbymules.com/ sports/mbkb/2017-18/boxscores/ 20180105_7ast.xml?view= boxscore