MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s basketball team split two NESCAC road games this past weekend before winning a non-league game away from home on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s win gave Coach Jeff Brown his 400th coaching victory. Brown, who led the Bates program before coming to Middlebury, has a 400-237 coaching record that includes a 370-201 mark with the Panthers.
The 13-5 Panthers are 2-2 in the league and play at undefeated NESCAC foe Williams, ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division III, on Saturday afternoon.
On this past Friday the Panthers defeated host Bates, 100-91. Middlebury used a 17-4 run late in the first half to take a 51-41 lead into the break. The Panthers hit five straight threes, two from Griffin Kornaker, in that surge. Bates came no closer than seven points in the second half.
Max Bosco led five Panthers in double figures with a career-high 28 points and dished out five assists. Jack Farrell recorded 20 points and a career-best eight assists, while Matt Folger netted 14. Joey Leighton scored 13 points, Kornaker finished with 10 and a career-high seven assists, while Alex Sobel grabbed eight boards.
Middlebury shot 50 percent from the floor, including 17 for 33 from behind the arc. Nick Lynch led Bates (4-12, 1-3 NESCAC) with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
On Saturday host Tufts (8-9, 2-2 NESCAC) edged the Panthers, 86-84, when Brennan Morris hit a 15-foot baseline jumper with seven seconds remaining.
The Panthers took a 42-36 lead into the break and led by 64-57 with 11:04 to go. But Tufts went on an 18-4 run to lead, 75-68, at 5:30. Middlebury chipped away and tied the game at 84-84 on an Eric McCord hoop at 0:36. After Morris’ go-ahead shot, Middlebury missed a jumper as time expired.
McCord finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Folger had 16 points and 13 boards, while Bosco scored 17.
Morris led five Jumbos in double figures with 17 points; Tufts shot 50 percent from the floor.
On Tuesday Middlebury outlasted host Albertus Magnus, 103-92, as six Panthers scored in double figures. Middlebury led by 64-62 in the second half when Farrell scored five points in a 10-2 run that pushed the lead to 74-64 with 12:50 left. The Panthers led by at least five points the rest of the way. The Panthers hit 33 of 35 free throws, including 13 of 14 in the final 3:19.
Farrell led the Panthers with 23 points, while Bosco added 21, including 13 of 14 free throws. Folger and Sobel each finished with 16 points, while Sobel added 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. McCord and Hilal Dahleh added 10 points apiece, while McCord pulled down 13 boards.
Davon Warner paced Albertus Magnus (10-5) with 26 points, including six threes.