Box Score Panther rally from 18-point deficit
MEDFORD, Mass. –Seniors Ryan
Lambert (Derry, N.H.) and Tom Dowd
(Portsmouth, N.H.) both scored 25 points Tuesday night as the
visiting Plymouth State University Panthers overcame an early
18-point deficit and went on to an 87-81 victory over Tufts
University at Cousens Gym.
The host Jumbos (3-4) led by 18 twice in the first half, including
36-18 with 5:48 remaining following a pair of free throws by junior
guard Amauris Quezada (New York, NY). Quezada's 12 points led nine
Tufts scorers who helped the Jumbos build that early margin.
Plymouth State (4-3), however, finished the half with a 22-7
advantage to cut the Tufts lead all the way down to three (43-40)
at the break. Dowd's seven points led the charge, and he finished
the first half with 12. Lambert had 14 for PSU at the half, and
Tufts' Quezada led all scorers with 15. Both teams made more than
they missed in the half, with Plymouth shooting 15 for 28 (53.6
percent) and Tufts at 15 for 29 (51.7 percent).
The Panthers, who hadn't led since a 4-2 score, went ahead 46-45 on
Dowd's jumper with 18:25 on the clock in the second half. They
would not reliquish the lead, and pushed it all the way to 11
points (60-49) with a 10-2 spurt capped by Lambert's fast-break
lay-up at 14:50.
The momentum switched to the Jumbos over the next five minutes,
during which they outscored Plymouth 14-4. The Jumbos were behind
just 64-63 at 9:46. Sophomore Scott Anderson (Sudbury, Mass.) had
eight of the points, including six at the line.
Plymouth regained control though with an 8-0 stretch that was
started by a traditional three-point play from junior Brian
Chergey (Bow, N.H.). The Panthers maintained a lead of at
least two possessions until the final minute. The Jumbos chipped
away and Anderson's lay-up with 51 seconds remaining pulled them
within 80-77. A Tufts foul with 46 seconds to go led to two free
throws by Plymouth senior Ian Dempsey (Andover,
Mass.) and an 82-77 score. Though Plymouth left the door open with
spotty free throw shooting in the final minute, the Jumbos were
unable to capitalize on it.
The Panthers finished at 58.8 percent shooting (30/51) after a
15-for-23 (65.2 percent) second half. Lambert added 12 rebounds and
seven assists to his 25 points for a magnificent game. Dempsey and
Chergey both scored 15 for the visitors, who also got four steals
from senior Matt Feehan (Nashua, N.H.).
Quezada's 21 points and six steals led Tufts, who was 0-for-10 from
three-point land in the second half. Anderson recorded 20 points
with eight rebounds, while junior James Long (Norwell, Mass.) had
10 points and seven boards. Tufts won the rebound battle 41-28.
Both teams play again on Thursday. Tufts is at UMass Dartmouth for
a 7 pm tilt and PSU plays at Lyndon State beginning at 7:30 pm.
(Courtesy of Tufts Sports Information)
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