WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark University men's basketball team (5-4) competed in the first day of the 2024 Clark Holiday Tournament against No. 10 Tufts (9-1) and dropped the contest 87-61 to the Jumbos on Sunday afternoon from the Kneller Gymnasium.  

How it Happened

• Tufts jumped out to an early 6-0 lead before senior Isaiah Taylor netted Clark's first points of the game with a three-pointer, but the Jumbos rattled off six straight to take a 12-3 advantage.
• Senior Kekoa McArdle got on the board for the Cougars next bucket and a three-pointer from graduate student Jordan Richard cut the deficit to five at 14-8 with 14:13 remaining in the first half.
• After four unanswered Jumbo points, senior Ian Calabrese connected on a pair of three-pointers before a senior Bruce Saintilus layup made it a 25-17 contest with 9:00 to play in the half.
• Tufts rattled off eight straight points before Richard connected on a triple off a feed from junior Reid Neumann and a McArdle layup pulled Clark back within 13 at 38-25.
• Saintilus scored five of the Cougars final six points to close out the first half as the Jumbos took a 47-31 advantage into the locker room.
• McArdle netted four of Clark's first five points in the second half and a three-pointer from Taylor made it a 59-41 contest with 13:27 remaining.
• After Tufts scored nine unanswered, Calabrese connected on three free throws before McArdle, Saintilus, and sophomore Christopher Clarke all scored within a minute for the Cougars.
• Taylor led the way with five points over the final five minutes of play, while first-year Kyle Squires, Neumann, and first-year Nathan Charlot scored as Clark fell 87-61.

Inside the Box Score

• Clark grabbed 50 rebounds, dished out 11 assists, and connected on nine three-pointers.
• McArdle tallied his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
• Taylor also registered 12 points, five rebounds, and added a team-leading three assists.
• Saintilus also reached double-figures with 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.

What's Next
The Cougars will play their second game in two days at the Clark Holiday Tournament when they take on St. Lawrence beginning at 2:00 p.m.