Just over 8 1/2 minutes into the No. 19 Brandeis men's basketball team's game last Sunday afternoon against Tufts University, forward Christian Yemga '11 hit a layup off a pass from guard Tyrone Hughes '12 to put the Judges up 12-0.The Judges never looked back from there, winning 60-52 in the final of the second annual New England Big 4 Challenge at Babson College. Brandeis defeated Babson 59-53 last Saturday to make the finals of the Challenge and now stands at 8-0 on the season after wins against Clark University last Tuesday and Framingham State University last Thursday.

"We started the game well," forward/guard Vytas Kriskus '12 said. "We built a good lead. I think at the end of the game they got closer because they started pressuring us a little bit, and I don't think we did a really good job handling the pressure."

Tufts scored the next 5 points to pull within 7, but got no closer the rest of the half. After the Jumbos got within 7 again with 7 minutes, 50 seconds left in the half, Brandeis went on a 15-5 run to go up 32-15 at the break.

The Judges continued their run early in the second half, scoring the first 6 points to go up by 23, their largest lead of the day. The lead remained in double digits until a layup by Jumbos junior forward Alex Orchowski put Tufts within 8 points with 2:33 left. Brandeis was able to hold on for the win, but coach Brian Meehan thought fatigue after playing four games in one week might be a factor in the team's struggles down the stretch.

"We've had a tendency in the last few games, where we haven't really done a great job executing," he said. "I think we've been a little bit tired; we had four games this week, and I think the effects of that were starting to show a little bit today."

Meehan specifically pointed out that Hughes played all 40 minutes both Saturday and Sunday.

"We need somebody on the bench to step up and be able to give us some minutes so that [Hughes] can get some rest," he added.

Kriskus, guard Derek Retos '14 and center Youri Dascy '14 combined to score 36 of the Judges' 60 points in the game. Dascy led the team with 14, followed by Retos with 12 and Kriskus with 10. Hughes led the team with eight assists to go along with his 7 points and was named the most valuable player for the tournament. Dascy was also named to the all-tournament team.

On Saturday, Brandeis defeated Babson 59-53 to move to 7-0. Babson went up by 3 on a jumper by junior forward Kris Noonan 2 1/2 minutes into the first half, but Kriskus hit a 3-pointer to tie the game, which was followed by another by guard Ben Bartoldus '14 to give Brandeis a lead it would never relinquish.

Dascy and Kriskus led the way for Brandeis once again, with each scoring a game-high 17 points. Dascy was eight for 10 from the field, while Kriskus was 6-8, including three for five from 3-point range.

On Thursday, the Judges handled Framingham State 73-47. Brandeis had a balanced scoring attack, with only Dascy and fellow rookie forward Alex Stoyle '14 reaching double figures. Each contributed 10 points, and Kriskus and Retos added 9 each. Dascy was also the only Judges player to connect on more than three field goals, as 12 players got into the scoring column for Brandeis.

"All the freshmen are contributing," Meehan said. "It might not be every night, but they've been pretty consistent, so we've been very fortunate. As always, we tend to be very unselfish, so different guys have opportunities different nights."

Dascy scored 7 points or fewer in his first five games but now has scored in double figures in each of his past three games.

"In the beginning, he had some trouble with plays," Kriskus said of Dascy. "But he's learning those plays now. He's really a force; you can't stop him inside because he's just so strong and he has a big body. As long as we get him the ball, I don't think there's a person who can stop him."

On Tuesday night, the Judges came from behind to beat Clark University 67-65 in overtime. Brandeis never led in regulation and was down 29-8 with 6:45 left in the first half. The Judges kept chipping away and tied the game with 25 seconds left after a free throw by guard Ruben Kanya '14, and Yemga missed a jumper to win the game in regulation for the Judges.

Brandeis took the lead for the first time on a 3-point shot by Retos 20 seconds into overtime. Clark came back to tie the game with 6 seconds left, but Yemga rebounded a missed free throw and passed the ball to Hughes, who drove the length of the court for a game-winning layup as time expired.

The Judges next action will be Jan. 6, 2011, when they play at Emerson College at 5 p.m.