Medford, MA --- Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA) paced four WPI players in double figure scoring as the Engineers rallied from a six-point second half deficit to spark the Engineers to a 74-61 road victory in a match-up of undefeated and nationally-ranked teams Saturday afternoon in Cousens Gymnasium.
 
WPI, which is ranked 20th in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, remains undefeated and is now 7-0 for the sixth time in the last 20 years under 24-year head coach Chris Bartley and for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.  The Jumbos, who are 8th in the same poll, slip to 5-1 on the season.
 
After scoring first in its previous six games this season, WPI found itself behind 3-0 when Dylan Reilly (Sammamish, WA) drained a 3-pointer for the hosts on the first possession of the game but the Engineers turned to its defense, holding the Jumbos scoreless for a 7:45 stretch from the 15:36 mark to 7:51 remaining in the half and used a pair of baskets by Callahan to spearhead a 6-0 run to put the guests ahead by eight at 17-9.   The advantage ballooned to as many as ten points but Tufts whittled away the deficit and used a 12-4 surge late in the half to take a 31-30 edge into the locker room at the break.  Tim Reidy (Needham, MA) and Callahan combined for 24 of the Crimson and Gray's 30 first half points.
 
Tufts notched 11 of the 16 points after intermission to take its largest lead of the game at 41-35 but six quick points by the Boynton Hillers, fueled by a trio of free throws by Nathan Bledsoe (San Antonio, TX) and a trifecta from Brett Marelli (Hampton, NH), leveled the contest at 41 all just under five minutes into the second half. 

WPI took the  lead for good with seven straight points, the last five from Nicholas Margetson (Baldwin, NY) to take a 48-44 advantage with 11:24 remaining.  The guests rattled off nine consecutive points in a two minute stretch to build a double digit cushion with under seven minutes to go.  The spurt featured five points by Justin Molen (Newark, DE), including a key 3-pointer and 4-of-4 shooting from the floor while the Engineers forced four straight stops on the defensive end by forcing two missed shots and a pair of turnovers.   86.2% shooting from the free throw line on the day (25-of-29) helped the guests keep the Jumbos at bay the rest of the way.
 
Callahan netted a team-high 19 points.  The senior point guard added five rebounds, four assists and three steals while draining 7-of-9 from the line.  Reidy and Molen each finished with 15 points and Margetson chipped in with 12.  Reidy canned three 3-pointer and netted 13 of his 15 points before half time, Molen was a point short of his career-best (16 in a win at MIT last season) and Margetson grabbed eight boards and was a rebound short of a season-high (9 in a victory over St. Joseph's (ME) two weeks ago).  Marelli hauled in six rebounds to go along with his first trifecta of the season and Matt Morvillo (Bedford, MA) and Bledsoe each were credited with four boards on the day.
 
James Morakis (Dallas, TX.) led all players with 20 points for the Jumbos while Reilly totaled 11, with a trio of 3-pointers and preseason All-America Scott Gyimesi (Fair Haven, NJ) chipped in with 10.
 
In addition to its strong free throw shooting, the Engineers held decisive edges in points off turnovers (18 to 8) and fast break points (19 to 4) while limited the hosts to 39.3% shooting from the floor.
 
WPI turns its attention to conference play, opening its NEWMAC slate Tuesday at home versus Salve Regina.  Tipoff is slated for 7pm.   Tufts has a quicker turnaround, venturing into to Boston on Monday to square off with Emmanuel beginning at 7pm.