Fencing foiled by Wellesley, Harvard in 2018–19 season debut see SPORTS / PAGE 7
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2018
Florence + the Machine’s ‘High as Hope’ tops list
Young players lead men’s basketball to win over Emerson after losses to Babson, Salem State see SPORTS / BACK PAGE
SEE ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 3
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T HE T UFTS DAILY
VOLUME LXXVI, ISSUE 59
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Friday, December 7, 2018
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Tufts amends protest registration policy following student backlash
EVAN SLACK / THE TUFTS DAILY
Students protest Tufts’ protest registration policies outside Ballou Hall on Oct. 22. by Connor Dale News Editor
The university reversed course on its requirement that students must register campus demonstrations of over 25 people with the Office for Campus Life (OCL), according to a Nov. 29 email to the Tufts community from Dean of Student Affairs Mary Pat McMahon, Director of
Community Standards Kevin Kraft and the faculty and student co-chairs of the Committee of Student Life (CSL). The now-revoked requirement garnered immediate backlash from students. First implemented as part of a larger overhaul to the student code of conduct this fall, it mandated protests expecting more than 25 attendees had to register in advance, although it did
not state what would happen to students who failed to do so. University officials claimed that it was meant to improve event logistics, such as the coordination of street closures with area police departments. The university has also noted that the “viewpoint-neutral” policy was not burdensome. Previously the policy allowed groups to apply for expedited approval
if their protest was planned last minute. But students contended otherwise. Through protests and feedback sessions, student groups and individuals asserted that the policy, whether willful or not, would stifle free speech and suppress student activism on campus, in a letsee PROTEST REGISTRATION, page 2
ResLife bring series of changes to housing lottery process by Ryan Shaffer Staff Writer
The Office of Residential Life and Learning (ResLife) announced changes to housing lottery system in a Nov. 28 email to students. Three significant changes were made in the housing application process, according to Associate Director of Housing Operations Matt Austin: The application process for special interest housing is now conducted before lottery numbers are assigned; those who apply in groups no longer have their lottery numbers averaged; and the pro-
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cess to determine selection priority has changed by making “1” the best possible lottery number. In previous years, a student could apply for special interest housing after lottery numbers were assigned. Austin said that the change in the special interest housing application process will discourage the students who apply for special interest housing purely to secure on-campus housing. “This encourages students to apply for a special interest house because they actually want to contribute to the community/special interest house, and not just because they got a poor
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lottery number or on the waitlist,” Austin told the Daily in an email. Sophomore Eugene HenningerVoss said he applied to live in the German Language House because he plans to study abroad in Germany. He added that he sees special interest housing as an opportunity to secure on-campus housing. “If I could get into special interest housing, I would not have to worry about the [craziness] of [having] to sublet or hoping to receive a lottery number,” Henninger-Voss said. Students placed in special interest housing will not be assigned lottery
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numbers. Austin said this will streamline the lottery process. Austin added that students and groups with lower numbers will be now the first to select housing. The best possible number for rising seniors and juniors will be “1,” while the best number for rising sophomores will be “1001,” according to Austin. Students will be assigned lottery or waitlist numbers during the week of Dec. 17, according to the Nov. 28 email. Students who do not receive a lottery number will receive a waitlist number.
NEWS............................................1 ARTS & LIVING.......................3
see HOUSING LOTTERY, page 2
FUN & GAMES.........................5 SPORTS............................ BACK
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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Friday, December 7, 2018
THE TUFTS DAILY Seohyun Shim Editor-in-Chief
EDITORIAL
Sean Ong Caleb Symons Managing Editors Alexis Serino Associate Editor Daniel Nelson Executive News Editor Jessica Blough News Editors Connor Dale Charlie Driver Jenna Fleischer Juliana Furgala Kat Grellman Liza Harris Zachary Hertz Gil Jacobson Anar Kansara Liam Knox Natasha Mayor Cathy Perloff Minna Trinh Hannah Uebele Shantel Bartolome Assistant News Editors Austin Clementi Conor Friedmann Abbie Gruskin Noah Richter
Jessie Newman Executive Features Editor Constantinos Angelakis Features Editors Emma Damokosh Kenia French Ameenah Rashid Michael Shames Grace Yuh Sidharth Anand Kevin Doherty Assistant Features Editors Jacob Fried Justin Yu Tommy Gillespie Executive Arts Editor Antonio Bertolino Arts Editors John Fedak Libby Langsner Setenay Mufti Julian Blatt Assistant Arts Editors Stephanie Hoechst Christopher Panella Ruijingya Tang Deeksha Bathini Jesse Clem Maria Fong Shannon Geary Nasrin Lin Lydia Ra Rebecca Tang Emily Burke Carrie Haynes Yuan Jun Chee Ryan Eggers Liam Finnegan Savannah Mastrangelo Arlo Moore-Bloom Maddie Payne Haley Rich Brad Schussel Tim Chiang Sejal Dua Jeremy Goldstein David Meyer Josh Steinfink Ethan Zaharoni
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Student backlash prompts reversal of protest registration policy PROTEST REGISTRATION
continued from page 1 ter to Tufts administration signed by 14 groups, a protest outside Ballou Hall on Oct. 22 and in various feedback opportunities held by the Dean of Student Affairs Office and the CSL. The amended code replaces the registration mandate with a recommendation that students voluntarily register their protests and demonstrations to allow the OCL and other university offices to provide event and logistical support. Kraft noted that this change exempts all protests from the registration process that applies to other student events. Kraft told the Daily in an email that the Dean of Student Affairs Office’s decision to reverse the policy was prompted by feedback from the Tufts
community and a recommendation from CSL. “The update to the policy was the result of CSL’s thoughtful consideration of community feedback and our direct engagement with interested students, faculty and staff,” Kraft said. McMahon said that her office and the CSL met with students and faculty one-on-one, in addition to conducting a “thorough” review of comments received. She applauded those who reached out with feedback on the policy change. “Through a collective effort, we were able to reach an outcome that makes more sense for our community while still enhancing communication and ensuring student safety,” McMahon told the Daily in an email. Senior Charlie Zhen, student co-chair of
the CSL, declined to comment, saying that the CSL would have to meet as a body to discuss any statement provided to the Daily. No statement was received by press time. Jesse Ryan, an organizer for Tufts Dining Action Coalition, emphasized the role that student activists played in this policy reversal. “Student organizers are the reason this policy change happened: without the work that students put in to organize the protest or the many meetings we had with administrators after the protest and leading up to the change, this wouldn’t have happened,” Ryan, a sophomore, told the Daily in an electronic message. “This policy change not only shows how much power we have as students and organizers on this campus, but also that, plain and simple, organizing works.”
ResLife emphasizes efficiency in new housing lottery process
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RACHEL HARTMAN / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES
Associate Director of Housing Operations Matt Austin poses for a portrait in his Harleston Hall office on Jan. 23.
HOUSING LOTTERY
continued from page 1 “The old system [was] confusing for students to truly identify where they stood in relation to their peers,” Austin said. Additionally, the lottery number for a group will no longer be an average of lottery numbers of people in the group. The change, which was proposed by ResLife last year but was not implemented, counts only the highest ranking number in the group. Austin explained this change will make the process more inclusive for those with lower ranking numbers. “This was done to promote that students live with their friends and don’t ‘cut’ friends with worse lottery numbers … just for the sake of them improving their group average,” Austin said. Austin also said that either everyone in the group will receive a lottery num-
ber, or everyone will be placed on the waitlist, noting that students can now submit their intended groups. Austin explained applying as an individual or as a group will not affect students’ chance of getting on-campus hosing, as ResLife will equally distribute lottery numbers between students applying in groups and as individuals. “This [change] allows our team to assign each student in the same group either a lottery number or a waitlist number,” Austin said. Sophomore Jordyn Voss, who has applied for housing and also plans to study abroad, approved of the change, saying that it will help eliminate some of the stress she experienced during the process as a first-year. “The ‘cutting’ out of friends does happen,” Voss said. “It tests a lot of friendships when you are a [first-year]. So I really like that change.”
Voss, however, added the housing process is still stressful, saying that this year’s process will affect her decision to study abroad. Voss, who receives some financial aid for housing, said she won’t be able to afford her study program if she does not secure on-campus housing. “My decision to study abroad is completely based on housing,” Voss said. “Ideally, I do not want to live off-campus, and if I do, it will cost more for me.” A student’s financial aid award is the same whether they live on or off campus, according to Patricia Reilly, Tufts’ director of financial aid. Reilly told the Daily in an email that cost of off-campus housing for nine months is similar to living on campus for most students, despite rent being typically more expensive than on-campus room charge. Reilly also noted food costs are lower when students live off campus.
Friday, December 7, 2018
ARTS&LIVING
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Top five TV shows of 2018
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Promotional posters for ‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014–), ‘Atlanta’ (2016–) and ‘Succession’ (2018–) are pictured.
by Daniel Klain
Contributing Writer
This year was an absurd one for television. Thanks to streaming platforms, our seasonally-based conceptions of when shows should air have broken. Just when it felt like TV was dying down, it came back strong. As the year now draws to a close, it is time to rank the top five shows of 2018. Without further ado: 5. “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” Light and exciting, this documentary series examines four simple components of food and how they simultaneously distinguish and unify different styles of cooking from around the world. The show never feels like it is talking down to you to explain the finer parts of cuisine; in fact, it is quite the opposite, as Samin Nosrat’s excitement and pure joy makes her seem
like one of us, as she enjoys the simple, delicious pleasures that different foods have to offer. Best scene: Samin preparing and eating pesto pasta with her host chef, Lidia, in Episode 1. 4. “Barry” (2018–) Bill Hader’s biggest project since leaving SNL is not so unexpected; an actor in a comedy playing a hitman who wants to be an actor feels like it could’ve have been taken right out of the SNL writers’ room. Yet, “Barry” and Hader were at their best once the show threw the physical comedy aside and went down a darker path to explore the consequences of Barry’s actions. It is important to mention the amazing supporting cast of Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root and Anthony Carrigan, who all elevate their characters from supporting personas to people who clearly influence the show and the story. Best scene: Gene
Cousineau (Henry Winkler) at his audition in Episode 4.
— it is one of the best television episodes of the year.
3. “BoJack Horseman” (2014–) No word better describes this complex, animated Netflix original than ‘thoughtful.’ Each season, it seems like “BoJack” is able to push the envelope further in its dissection of contemporary issues, and Season 5 was no different. Rather than directly addressing the #MeToo movement, “BoJack” uses multiple storylines to offer its thoughts on the issue, giving it more depth as well as a more holistic and realistic opinion on how the entertainment industry and people involved deal with it. While the show definitely has its comedic and clever moments, it shines brightest when BoJack and Diane are at their most remorseful, properly exemplifying feelings of anxiety and depression that are quite prevalent in modern society. Best scene: All of Episode 6, “Free Churro”
2. “Atlanta” (2016–) If Season 1 felt meta in its takedown of fame, rap and an eclectic assortment of other issues, viewers should have prepared themselves for Season 2. Starting off with Katt Williams and Alligator Man, the season brilliantly examined celebrity status and the costs that come with it. To match Alfred’s (Brian Tyree Henry) rise in fame, all the characters seemed to be hitting the same notes, just on larger instruments. Formerly thought of as Donald Glover’s project, the show seemed to give the reigns from Glover to other people on the show. Hiro Murai continued his beautiful directing, Brian Tyree Henry
anger on “Thru Your Phone.” It is a 3D release that presents Cardi B as a powerful figure, showcasing sides of the Bronx star that even she might not have known she had.
7. “The Now Now” (Gorillaz) “The Now Now” comes after the darker and less-consistent “Humanz” (2017), a long album with an even longer list of collaborators. With their newest release, Gorillaz get back to basics. “The Now Now” focuses on gorgeous summer sounds, simpler themes and coherent production and voice. It is an optimistic album, from the summer sun of “Humility” (feat. George Benson) to the twinkling sound of “Sorcererz” and the comfort of “Souk Eye.” With this, “The Now Now” is a grounded release from a virtual band that is always evolving.
see TOP FIVE TV, page 4
Top 10 albums of 2018 by Christopher Panella Assistant Arts Editor
This year’s music releases have taken listeners across every range of emotion, from soaring ballads to hard-hitting rap, country pop and disco to slow-burning R&B. It is a year of well-written lyrics — the best albums are not only the ones that feel personal and raw, but also those that are able to maintain honest songwriting while branching into new and exciting sounds. There is an authenticity about these 10 albums; each in some way is the most powerful and interesting in their respective artist’s discography. There are a few honorable mentions, including Saba’s “Care for Me,” The 1975’s “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships,” BORNS’ “Blue Madonna” and Mariah Carey’s “Caution.” 10. “Singular: Act I” (Sabrina Carpenter) “Singular: Act 1” is an impressive release. Through a refreshingly short
eight tracks, Carpenter builds on love, romance and her own personal experiences in surprisingly mature ways for a 19-year-old ex-Disney Channel act. Lead single “Almost Love” is sultry dance-pop, while “Paris” and “prfct” are edgier jams. Carpenter’s voice may be center stage, but the production makes the dance-pop “Singular: Act 1″ more than just a love album. On “Singular: Act 1,” Carpenter seems to delve into newfound adulthood, but she keeps a foot in the infectious melodies of her previous releases. Listeners can only sit and wait for Act II. 9. “Invasion of Privacy” (Cardi B) A debut unlike any other, Cardi B’s “Invasion of Privacy” holds nothing back. The album is layered with interesting insights into Cardi, from her personal life to her public figure. There is vulnerable history for Cardi on “Get Up 10,” while the rapper adds sexual hilarity to “Bickenhead” and helpless
8. “Everything is Love” (Beyoncé and Jay-Z) It is the final installment in the Carters’ trilogy on love, marriage, fame, wealth and infidelity. Beginning with Beyoncé’s iconic “Lemonade” (2016) and continuing into Jay-Z’s “4:44” (2017), a collaborative album by the two was always expected — and expected to be good. “Everything is Love” does not disappoint, with the two music legends rapping and singing through highlight tracks like R&B jam “SUMMER,” trap single “APESHIT” and hip-hop heaven “LOVEHAPPY.” Sure, Beyoncé seems to outshine Jay-Z — granted, Beyoncé outshines everyone — but the two work incredibly well on this fleshed-out, satisfying ending.
6. “Swimming” (Mac Miller) The late rapper’s final album is a testament to vulnerability, confusion, acceptance and honesty. “Swimming” flows see TOP 10 ALBUMS, page 4
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THE TUFTS DAILY | Arts & Living | Friday, December 7, 2018
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Florence + the Machine’s ‘High as Hope’ tops 2018’s best albums TOP 10 ALBUMS
continued from page 3 through sounds and themes, introducing many and developing them slowly with each track. “Hurt Feelings” is perfect melancholy, “What’s the Use?” is more fun disco and “Small Worlds” is slower R&B. It is his strongest body of music, with Miller giving listeners a look into his own doubts and demons. This rawness can be shocking at first, but it is with dreamy honesty that “Swimming” hooks listeners. 5. “Little Dark Age” (MGMT) Their first new album in five years, “Little Dark Age” brings MGMT back to their roots: pop beats, darker themes and warping vocals. It is a challenging listen, with the band’s now-famous eccentric ideas hitting hard in songs like “When You Die.” Of course, this is when MGMT is at their best, displaying an authenticity and weirdness that is both focused and intriguing. There is an 80s pop vibe around the album, but each song develops intricacies and addictive melodies. The title track, “Little Dark Age,” is darker synth, while “One Thing Left to Try” is rambunctious pop. “Little Dark Age” is MGMT’s best album yet and a strong return for the band. 4. “Be the Cowboy” (Mitski) Mitski’s genius is especially prevalent on “Be the Cowboy,” her fifth album. “Be the Cowboy” sees Mitski branch into new sounds (more rock) and deeper themes (loneliness, hurt and vulnerability). It is a stripped-down piece of art, and Mitski’s songwriting skills are the bones, flesh and blood of the album. This does not mean “Be the Cowboy” lacks bops and jams. Slower disco “Nobody” and slinky funk “Washing Machine Heart” both manage to build on the album’s themes without losing their fun. Sure, “Be the Cowboy” is structurally sound, but its focus is on Mitski’s worldview — something everyone should pay attention to. 3. “Dirty Computer” (Janelle Monáe) Monáe has long been a face in the music industry, but with “Dirty Computer” — a concept album exploring sex, women, race and fluidity — she becomes one of 2018’s most important icons. There is an organic vulnerability to “Dirty Computer,” prevalent in tracks like “Crazy, Classic, Life” and the slower “Don’t Judge Me.” Monáe’s masterpiece is not short of jams, though. “Make Me Feel” and “I Got The
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The album art for Florence + the Machine’s ‘High as Hope,’ Mitski’s ‘Be the Cowboy,’ Janelle Monáe’s ‘Dirty Computer’ and Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Golden Hour’ are pictured. Juice” (feat. Pharrell Williams) are the album’s more pop moments, but are still full of purpose. With “Dirty Computer,” Monáe seems to have found herself, and it is pure joy to listen to. 2. “Golden Hour” (Kacey Musgraves) The country star’s fourth studio album is stunningly unique, blending country pop (“Butterfly”) with disco (“High Horse”) and slow ballads (“Rainbow”). Musgraves effortlessly brings everything to the table, offering heartache and independence with an attitude that makes “Golden
‘BoJack Horseman,’ ‘Atlanta’ among top TV shows of 2018 TOP FIVE TV
continued from page 3 took on the brunt of the narrative arc and exceeded all expectations and writers like Stefani Robinson emerged as great storytellers. Overall, Season 2 was beautiful, and its air of finality felt like the right decision. Best scene: Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) walking upstairs to find Teddy (Donald Glover) watching an old film, followed by their final confrontation — one so haunting and full of pain and anguish that it will replay over and over in your mind long after you finish the episode. 1. “Succession” (2018–) In a time when it seems like the world is collapsing from the corruption of the wealthy, there was nothing we needed more than a searing roast of what that really entails. Shakespearean in its over-
the-top comedy mixed with fatal drama, “Succession” doesn’t try to humanize wealth, but rather honestly shows the viciousness and emotional emptiness that comes with it. The show could have been incredibly messy given the number of characters in its ensemble cast, but fortunately, its clever narrative allowed characters to pair off at different times and combine their strengths. Once this show picked up steam, it never slowed down, and it is so thrilling at times that it is difficult for the audience to remain seated. Once again, it is important to draw attention to the ensemble cast: Matthew Macfadyen, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck and Nicholas Braun all contributed to this show’s going from great to amazing. Best scene: Whichever scene with Tom (Matthew MacFayden) and Greg (Nicholas Braun) makes you laugh the hardest.
Hour” extremely fulfilling. It is a comfort listen, built upon warm sounds and a nice country twist that highlights Musgraves’ voice and honest lyrics. “Golden Hour” seems to be all-knowing — there is a sense of maturity in the work that is unlike anything Musgraves has released before or any other music released this year. 1. “High as Hope” (Florence + the Machine) From its most sweeping moments to its most hushed whispers, “High as Hope” is Florence + the Machine and 2018’s music
at its best. Florence Welch’s vocals dominate every track — vulnerable on tracks like “June” and “The End of Love” and intimidating on “Big God” and “Grace.” Executively produced by Welch herself, the fourth album from the band explores Welch’s past and loneliness in cultivating lyrics and a more orchestral production compared to the art rock and pop of “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” (2015). It is the sweet spot of everything Florence + the Machine excels at and a reminder that when Welch sings, everyone had better listen.
Friday, December 7, 2018 | FUN & GAMES | THE TUFTS DAILY
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Fencing falls to Harvard, Wellesley in first matches of new season
EDDIE SAMUELS / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES
Senior co-captain Zoe Howard (left) competes in the Northeast Fencing Conference Multi-Meet at Boston College on Jan. 28. by Ryan Eggers Sports Editor
Tufts kicked off its 2018–19 campaign in earnest with a threeteam match against Wellesley and host Harvard on Tuesday. The Jumbos flashed their potential at times, particularly in the foil events, but ultimately fell to both opponents. “The Harvard-Wellesley meet is the hardest meet of the season, and it’s also the first meet,” sophomore Georgia Kollias said. “We usually use it to work on skills for the rest of the season and to just get us ready.” Tufts gave Wellesley a strong challenge, even pulling out a 7–2 victory in the foil bouts. Senior co-captain Zoe Howard and first-year Allison Cheng contributed three wins each, and Kollias added one to give the Jumbos a convincing victory. Wellesley flipped the script in the other two disciplines, however, winning both by wide margins. The Blue took the saber matchup 7–2 and went one better in
the epee, winning 8–1. Sophomore Lillie Ahearn was the sole Tufts saber fencer to find success, winning 5–3 and 5–1 in her first and third bouts. Sophomore Subin Jeong put up a fair fight in both of her matches, scoring two and three points, respectively, but the Shrewsbury, Mass. native could not come up with a victory. It was the same story for the Jumbos in the epee bouts. Only first-year Hannah Fruitman managed to defeat her opponent, notching a tight 5–4 victory. The rest of the matches were won in dominant fashion by the Blue, as the Jumbos failed to record more than two points in any of their other eight opportunities. With an 8–1 win in the epee, Wellesley wrapped up a 17–10 overall victory. “We’re definitely going to do a lot better the next time we see them,” Kollias said. “We’ll see Wellesley three times during the season at three separate meets, so we’re really looking to see improvement over time.” Much like in its match against Wellesley, Tufts performed well in the
foil category against Harvard before falling to the hosts 25–2. Howard represented a bright spot for the Jumbos, winning two of her three bouts against the Crimson to close out the day with an impressive five wins out of six matches. “I’ve never won a bout against a Harvard fencer before,” Howard said. “So picking up two wins was something that I just felt really proud of. I feel good heading into the rest of the season.” The rest of Tufts’ foil squad was unable to find the same success, eking out one or two points in five of the other six matches and getting swept in the sixth. A talented Crimson squad wrapped up a resounding 7–2 victory in the category. Harvard also notched a 9–0 sweep in the saber matches, mounting an overwhelmingly adept attack to win all but one bout either 5–0 or 5–1. The Crimson pulled off another clean sweep in the epee competition, though the epee matches were more competitive than the saber matches. First-year Caroline Hayes was able to notch three points
against one opponent, and Fruitman did so twice. Despite their losses, the rest of the Jumbos performed admirably, with none getting swept. Harvard also defeated Wellesley 24–3 to improve to 6–1 overall. Meanwhile, the Jumbos will enjoy their holiday break before traveling to Brown on Jan. 26 for the Northeast Fencing Conference Multi-Meet. “A lot of us have clubs that we’re going home to over winter break,” Howard said. “So I know there will still be some training going on off campus. But overall the goal is to stay in shape and get some rest after finals.” Going forward, the team knows there are adjustments to be made but have confidence that it will be ready for their next meet. “We lost a lot of really great talent last year with the senior class, especially in epee and saber,” Howard said. “So I think going forward, we’re going to look at what we did in this meet and what we didn’t do and figure out how we can each individually improve moving forward for our next meet in January.”
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Sports
Friday, December 7, 2018
Men’s basketball rebounds against Emerson after tough weekend at Big 4 Challenge
EVAN SLACK / THE TUFTS DAILY
First-year guard Tyler Aronson shoots a 3-pointer in Tufts’ 87–70 win against Emerson on Dec. 5. by Bradley Schussel and Josh Steinfink Sports Editor and Assistant Sports Editor
The Jumbos dropped both of their games at the New England Big 4 Challenge this past weekend, hosted by the Babson Beavers in Wellesley, Mass. Tufts’ two losses dropped its record to 2–4, but it was able to make up some ground on Wednesday hosting Emerson, clinching the 87–70 win. The annual Big 4 Challenge, hosted by Babson, also featured Tufts, Brandeis and Salem State. These local teams are no stranger to one another — Tufts played Babson for the seventh time in the tournament’s history and their 42nd head-to-head matchup overall. Coach Bob Sheldon commented on the weekend’s results. “We’ve just [got to] stay the course, keep working hard,” Sheldon said. “Saturday, we came out, we didn’t have energy, and Babson went crazy making every shot they took. We got in a hole and just couldn’t get out.” Tufts’ win against Emerson Wednesday featured scoring across its starters and its bench, especially its younger players. First-year guard Tyler Aronson led the Jumbos with 13 points, while three others — including first-year guard Carson Cohen — put up more than 10 points in the game. Emerson’s biggest lead of the game came when it made two early buckets, but Tufts soon took over and never looked back. While Tufts edged a narrow first half, 31–26, the team’s offense final-
ly took over in the second half, putting up 56 points to seal the victory. What decided the game in Tufts’ favor was its ability to convert its free throws (31-of35) compared to Emerson (17-of-25). Tufts fell to Salem State, 84–90, on Sunday. Regardless, sophomore guard Brennan Morris put up 29 points and 10 rebounds in the effort — his first double-double of his collegiate career. “We had good energy on Sunday against Salem but just didn’t shoot well,” Sheldon said. “We were 31-of-90 [on field goals] — that’s a lot of shots. We just [got to] keep working hard and stick together.” The first half of the game was very tightly contested, with neither team pulling away for even a minute. The lead changed multiple times over the first half, with the Jumbos leading 31–27 with just under four minutes to play. However, the Vikings caught fire just before the break, entering halftime with a 41–35 lead. Salem State successfully swung their momentum forward, coming out with a purpose to start the second half, while junior guard and co-captain Eric Savage and his teammates struggled to score. “I myself have been struggling from the 3-point line for sure,” Savage said. “I know some other guys might not be shooting it great or as well as they can. We have faith in our offensive talent. Those … shooting stats are [going to] start to even out over the next few games. I have full faith in our offense. Something that will help is getting stops on defense so
we can run in transition and start to get easier looks, high-percentage shots. There’s no immediate panic button; I have full faith in our offensive ability. Despite their struggles, the Jumbos kept battling, with Morris contributing shot after shot, including seven 3-pointers. Eventually, the Jumbos pulled within two, 86–84, with 28 seconds left in regulation. However, Tufts was unable to post any more point until the buzzer sounded for the 90–84 loss. Despite Tufts’ 94–73 blowout loss to Babson Saturday, there were nevertheless some bright spots in the team’s performance. Aronson had an impressive performance as he scored 17 points and four rebounds, while Savage posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Tufts was on its heels all game, with Babson jumping out to an early 10–4 lead and eventually expanding its cushion to as much as 19. The Jumbos battled back, reducing the gap to as little as eight through Morris’ 3-point shot with four minutes on the clock. Thanks to a Beavers run, the Jumbos fell back to a 50–29 deficit by halftime. Already down by 21, the second half remained relatively uneventful for the Jumbos, who were simply struggling to stay in the game. Both teams scored 44 points in the second half, but a tie was not what the Jumbos needed to erase the early-game deficit. Savage expressed confidence that the team will learn from both its losses and wins.
“We’re young, so we’re not panicking,” Savage said. “We have a lot of guys that are getting better, learning everyday. If we want to start learning from wins, which is better than learning from losses, we’ve got to start defending as a team a little bit and finish those defensive possessions with rebounds.” Sheldon applauded the first-years’ contributions over the weekend and remains positive about their performance for the rest of the season. “They’re [going to] play a lot all year. We’re hopefully building on everything. We put the ‘fun’ in ‘fundamentals.’ Everybody’s playing, and we’ve got to get the rotations down, but [the younger players] are getting valuable experience. We’ve had blowouts, we’ve had close games, we’ve had close wins. So it’s been a run of the gauntlet, and I think it’s [going to] be like that all year with a young team. Hopefully we’ll grow up sooner rather than later and be able to finish games out,” Sheldon said. Tufts will finish out the fall semester by playing matches against UMass Dartmouth and Framingham State on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, and will not have much time off during the break. Nonetheless, the team is looking forward. “We come back on the 26th and start practicing, play a tournament and then the next weekend, the NESCAC starts,” Sheldon said. “There’s not a lot of time off. That’s a good time of the year because we just have basketball.”