MEDFORD, Mass.—Tufts University battled back from a 12-point deficit to down Skidmore College 88-80 in the NCAA III second round Saturday night.
 
The Thoroughbreds (19-9) end their season in the NCAA Round of 32 for the second straight year. The 20^th ranked Jumbos (22-6) advanced to play Johnson and Wales in the Round of 16. 
 
It was Skidmore's first loss to a nationally ranked team in five games this season.
 
Thoroughbred freshman Edvinas Rupkus scored a game-high 28 points to go along with eight rebounds. Erik Sanders had a double/double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Royce Paris and Isaac Carp scored 10 points each.
 
Tom Palleschi led five Tufts players in double figures with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Stephen Haladyna scored 18 points, while Ryan Spadaford, Tarik Smith, and Ethan Feldman added 14 each.
 
Skidmore built a 45-32 first half lead behind 57.6% shooting from the floor. The Jumbos whittled the lead down to four, 47-43 at the half.

Tufts came out strong after the break, grabbing a four point lead, 51-47 just under five minutes into the second half. 
 
But Skidmore would not go away, and  Sanders made a three and then Rupkus made two from the charity stipe to take the one point advantage.  With 12:59 left on the clock the Jumbos tied the game again, the eighth and final time the game would be tied, thanks to a three by freshman Ethan Feldman. 
 
The Thoroughbreds took the lead back courtesy of six points from Rupkus, but with 7:23 remaining Feldman drained another three to take the lead and the Jumbos would not relinquish it.  
 
With 4:12 remaining on the clock Smith made a three that gave the Jumbos the 10 point lead, 78-68.  The Thoroughbreds would not give up, and tried to chip away at the Jumbo lead, but Tufts held on for the 88-80 win.  

COACH BURKE:
Congrats to Tufts on a well played game.  I thought we played well enough to win, but came up a couple possessions short. We competed as tough and as physical as we have all year on defense, but it's hard to over come 44 free throw attempts.  Offensively, I thought we did everything we could to drive the ball but for some reason we just couldn't get to the line as much as we normally do.  Sometimes it just doesn't go your way.  That being said we had our chances but Tufts made a couple key shots down the stretch.

 I am so proud of this group.  I thought our kids played their tails off as they have all year long. They were resilient and battled through adversity tonight like they did all year.  We accomplished so much with so many new faces in the program. Everyone in that locker room can sleep tonight knowing that we are one of the best programs in the country regardless of tonight's outcome.