Men's Basketball Knocks Off Tufts, 96-70, in Season-Opener

Box Score 

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Four Bridgewater State College starters scored in double figures to lead the Bears past Tufts University, 96-70, in first day action of the 2007 Brandeis Tip-Off Tournament.

The win marked the 200th coaching victory for Bridgewater State head coach Joe Farroba.  Farroba, now in his 16th season as the bears' skipper, has a career coaching record of 200-194. During his tenure the Bears have reached postseason play five times including NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999 and 2006.

Tufts (0-1) led for the first 10 minutes of the game, but once Bridgewater State (1-0) caught fire, the Bears never looked back. BSC took the lead for good at the 10:46 mark on a rare four-point play by senior guard Tom Cuddihy (Scituate, Mass.). They opened the margin to as high as 15 points in the first half before taking a 47-37 lead into the locker room.

The Jumbos got as close as seven points at 51-44 just over two minutes into the second half, but the Bears answered with a 22-9 run over the next eight minutes to put the game away.

BSC put four starters in double figures, led by Cuddihy's 19 points, all of which came in the first half. Cuddihy shot seven-of-11 from the floor and four-of-seven from 3-point range with a free throw in the first before taking just one errant 3-pointer in the second. Junior forward Roland Millien (Stoughton, Mass.) came three assists shy of a triple-double with 15 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and seven assists. Sophomore guard Anthony Goss (Boston, Mass.) and senior forward Dwayne Wilkerson (East Providence, R.I.) each scored 12 points for the Bears. Goss led all players with four steals on the night, while Wilkerson blocked three shots.

Bridgewater State shot 54 percent from the floor for the game (33-61), including 50 percent from long distance (9-18). They also converted 21-of-30 free throws (70 percent), forced 27 turnovers and outrebounded their opponents, 38-30.

Tufts was led by junior forward Jon Pierce (Belmont, Mass.), who recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, both game-highs. Senior Jake Weitzen (New York, N.Y.) was the only other Jumbo player in double figures with 10 points. Classmate Jeremy Black (Jamesville, N.Y.) led all players with eight assists and topped the Jumbos with three steals.

Tomorrow, Brandeis and Bridgewater State will meet at 12 noon, while Tufts and Kenyon face off at 2 p.m. Since the match-ups were predetermined, there will be no tournament champion crowned.