November 30, 2004

Nov. 30, 2004

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Reggie Stovell continued his torrid start to the new campaign with an impressive double-double that led visiting Tufts (2-3) to a 54-51 victory over MIT (3-2) at Rockwell Cage on Tuesday night. Stovell scored a game-high 20 points and added a game-high 16 rebounds for Tufts, which didn't take its first lead until the final two minutes of regulation.

 

It was a tough loss for the Engineers, who held the Jumbos to 28-percent shooting for the game and blocked a season-high five shots. Junior Mike D'Auria served as Tech's catalyst, scoring 19 points, while adding eight rebounds and five assists. Senior Adam Gibbons solidified the wing for MIT with 14 points and five more dimes.

 

The difference in Tuesday's tilt proved to be on the interior, as Stovell and Dan Martin combined to pace Tufts to a 48-40 edge in rebounding, and a 22-16 advantage for points in the paint.

 

Stovell was the only player to register double-figures for the Jumbos, although nine different players contributed in the win. It was the complete opposite for Tech's hardwood unit, which relied on its trio of outside shooters to keep ahead of Tufts as the front court failed to find its rhythm for the second consecutive game.

 

The Engineers did get a glimpse of the future as freshman Hamidou Soumare stepped in for four points and six rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Soumare was 2-for-2 from the floor and added a steal and a block in his first chance with extended minutes.

 

MIT lost its second straight after opening the season with a tournament championship and three consecutive wins. The Engineers had a chance to tie the game, but Will Mroz's deep three banged off the front rim just as time expired. Tech's rookie wing added eight points and a career-high five rebounds in the loss.