MIDDLETOWN, Conn. –  On a night where Gabe Ravetz '23 broke the program's all-time three-point record, the Wesleyan men's basketball team managed to hold off Tufts for an 85-82 win from SIlloway Gymnasium. The Cardinals (15-8, 6-3) lock down a top four seed in the NESCAC Tournament, earning a home Quarterfinal game next Saturday. The Jumbos (17-6, 5-4 NESCAC) suffer just their second defeat in the last six games.
 
It didn't take Ravetz long to make history, as the senior connected on his first attempt from long range to surpass Harry Rafferty '17 for first place on the all-time career record list for most made three-pointers in program history. Ravetz went on to finish the game with five makes from long range, all in the first half, as he now sits alone at the top with 199 career three-point makes as a Cardinal.
 
In an electrifying first half that saw nearly 100 combined points between the two teams, the Cardinals went 19-for-30 (63.3 percent) from the floor with eight three-point makes, to open a 51-42 halftime lead. Tufts led by as many as five midway through the first half, but the Cardinals blitzed the Jumbos with 32 points in the final 9:13 of the half.
 
Incredibly, from the time of Shane Regan's pull-up make in the paint with 9:13 left in the first half, that sparked a run wherein the Cardinals made eight consecutive shots and finished the first half connecting on 12 of their final 14 shot attempts before half. Ravetz highlighted the run, hitting a three-pointer on three straight possessions, the last of which putting Wesleyan ahead 49-36, which was the largest Cardinal lead of the game.
 
Tufts did a good job weathering the storm in the first half, shooting north of 50 percent on the other end and 6-of-10 from three, generating 42 points and closing the deficit to single digits at the halftime break. Wesleyan's lead quickly shrunk to six early in the second half and suddenly it was just a one-point game at 61-60 with 10:09 remaining.
 
Forced into a timeout, the Cardinals stymied the Jumbo run with baskets on three straight possessions which extended to a 14-2 run that stretched Wesleyan's lead back up to double digits with just over five minutes left.
 
Wesleyan continued to lead comfortably by nine with three minutes showing but missed free throws down the stretch kept the door open for Tufts who cut the Cardinal lead down to just one point with 14 seconds left. However, a timeout was called for by the Tufts bench, but with the Jumbos having none remaining, that meant a technical foul and two free throws plus possession for Wesleyan.
 
After going just 1-of-2 on consecutive trips at the free throw line, Tufts still had a chance to tie the score in the closing seconds. Choosing to go for a quick two, Khai Champion saw his driving layup attempt rim out and the game finished with Ravetz's defensive board.
 
Another instant classic between the two sides prolongs a great all-time series as the last eight straight games played have all been decided by eight points or less.
 
Ravetz finished with 22 points (8-14 FG, 5-9 3FG), 21 of which were scored in the first half. The senior is just two points shy of hitting 1,000 for his career. Nicky Johnson '25 tallied 18 points with six assists, six rebounds, and two steals while Preston Maccoux '23 (16 points) and Regan (13 points) both totaled double figure point totals.
 
Dylan Thoerner led Tufts with a career-high 33 points as he missed just one shot for the entire game, finishing 12-for-13 from the floor and 8-of-9 from three.
 
The Cardinals finish regular season play on Saturday at 3 PM with Senior Day against Bates.