Box Score

MEDFORD - Alex Goldfarb (New York, NY) scored a game-high 18 points and junior Alex Orchowski (Cornwall, NY) had eight points and 13 rebounds in the second half as the Tufts University men's basketball team earned a 79-67 win over Skidmore College in their season-opener Saturday night at Cousens Gym.

The Jumbos led 37-36 at the half, but opened the margin up to 11 points (54-43) eight minutes into the second half and led comfortably the rest of the way. Orchowski, a transfer from Lafayette, finished with 13 points and 17 rebounds. The Jumbos, who shot 50.9 percent from the field (29/57), had five scorers in double digits. Junior tri-captain James Long (Norwell, MA) ended up with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

After a good start, Skidmore struggled through a poor shooting night. They finished at 33.8 percent (23/68). Junior Brian Lowry (West Hartford, CT) led the Thoroughbreds with 15 points, including four of seven shooting from three-poind land. Junior Gerard O'Shea (West Sand Lake, NY) finished with 13 points, five steals and four assists.

The visitors had a 24-18 lead after two free throws by junior Melvis Langyintuo (Tamale, Ghana) at 9:40 of the first half. The Jumbos erased that deficit quickly, tying the game at 24-24 on an alley-oop dunk from senior tri-captain Matt Galvin (Floral Park, NY) to Orchowski. A three-pointer by Goldfarb (eight first-half points) gave Tufts the lead at the break.

With the score tied 41-41 early in the second half, Tufts initiated a 7-0 stretch that put them in control. Senior tri-captain Sam Mason (York, ME) had three points during the run. With Tufts up 11, Skidmore scored back-to-back baskets and was within six (54-48) after a three-pointer by senior Jeff Altimar (Medfield, MA) with 11:40 on the clock.

Goldfarb answered with consecutive three-pointers and the Jumbos led 60-48 with 10 minutes gone in the second half. The Thoroughbreds would not get within single-digits the rest of the way.

Junior John Mantas (Niskayuna, NY) hit five of eight shots and scored 11 for Skidmore, who totaled 13 steals. Langyintuo's final line included 10 points with four rebounds.

"All the credit goes to Tufts, they were the better team tonight," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke,  "I thought we fought hard but they wore us down in the end especially on the interior. This was a great challenge for us. Tufts is a  good program in a good league. I feel like we can be on that level we just need to get a little tougher and we need to keep improving every day in practice.

"One of the great things about college basketball is that you can get right back out there and play. We have to go home, learn from this game, try and get some guys healthy and than get ready for a Southern Vermont team that is playing very good basketball."

Skidmore is at Southern Vermont Tuesday.