Tufts University took the lead for good with a 14-3 run late in the first half and the nationally ranked No. 6 Jumbos went on to a 94-81 NESCAC win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Tufts' Cousens Gym on Saturday afternoon.

The Jumbos (13-2, 4-0 NESCAC) won their seventh straight game and moved into first place by themselves in the conference standings. Hamilton (10-4, 2-2) scored more than 80 points for the 10th time this season.

Peter Hoffmann '19 poured in 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots for the Continentals. Hoffmann scored 20 or more points for the sixth time in 12 games. Andrew Groll '19 chipped in 15 points and eight boards, and Kena Gilmour '20 scored 13 in 17 minutes off the bench. Jack Dwyer '18 handed out three assists and made two steals.

Tufts' KJ Garrett was 8 of 11 shooting and finished with 19 points off the bench. Tarik Smith dropped in 16 points and dished out four assists, and Ben Engvall added 14 points and three steals. Eric Savage posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Tom Palleschi had three blocks.

There were four ties and six lead changes in the first eight minutes as neither team led by more than three points. Smith pulled the Jumbos out of a 19-19 tie with a 3-pointer and Gilmour made it a one-point game again with a jumper. Tufts' Thomas Lapham responded with a trifecta and Garrett and Patrick Lacy made layups for a 29-21 cushion with 10:14 left in the half.

Hamilton countered with a 13-2 run that put the Continentals ahead by three at 34-31 with 6:23 remaining. Hoffmann started the spurt with a basket in the paint, Gilmour added a layup and Groll made two free throws. After a Palleschi jumper, Hamilton's Vincent Conn '20 sank a pair of shots at the line, Joe Pucci '18 tied the score with a jumper and Michael Grassey '19 moved the Continentals in front with a 3-pointer.

The Jumbos seized the lead for good with a 14-3 run as Hamilton went four minutes without a bucket. Savage kicked things off with a jumper and Engvall put Tufts in front for good with a 3-pointer. Conn stopped the bleeding with a free throw but Lapham nailed a jumper and Garrett threw down a dunk. Hoffmann pulled the Continentals within 40-37 with two free throws before Garrett scored from close range and Engvall drained another shot from long range for a 45-37 advantage with 2:45 to go.

A Garrett 3-pointer beat the halftime buzzer and gave the Jumbos a 53-42 lead at the break. Tufts shot 52.5 percent including 7 of 18 from beyond the arc during the first 20 minutes. Hamilton stayed close in the first half by going 6 of 11 from 3-point range.

The Continentals pulled within eight points early in the second half but didn't get any closer. The Jumbos led by as many as 20 points on a couple occasions down the stretch.

Tufts held a 54-44 advantage on the glass while Hamilton made more free throws (22) than the Jumbos attempted (21).

The Continentals return home to take on SUNY Polytechnic in non-conference action on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m.