Hartford, Conn. – Five Bantams finished in double figures in scoring, as the Trinity College men's basketball team posted a 74-65 win over the visiting Manhattanville College Valiants this afternoon in Oosting Gymnasium.  Trinity improves to 8-4 and Manhattanville drops to 5-6.

Trinity never trailed but had to hold off the Valiants late in a gamwe that was close for its majority.  The Bantams led, 27-20, at the six-minute mark of the first half after a three-pointer by sophomore guard Jaquann Starks (Hartford, Conn.), but Manhattanville fought back trailed just, 35-34, after a trey by junior Connor Quigley (Pelham, N.Y.) in the closing seconds before halftime.  Quigley led all scorers at the break with 10 points and Manhattanville made half of its 12 tries from long range, while Trinity held a 25-11 advantage on the boards.

Trinity increased its advantage in the second half to double digits at 49-37 at the 12-minute mark thanks to drive by junior forward Alex Conaway (New Haven, Conn.), but the visitors again clawed their way back and cut the lead to 60-58 inside of the five-minute mark on a jumper by sophomore guard Anthony Maestre (Bronx, N.Y.).  Trinity answered with an 11-2 run that started with a drive and dish by Starks to freshman forward Edward Ogundeko (Brooklyn, N.Y.) for a dunk, and a put the game out of reach.  Trinity made 10 of 14 shots fr4om the foul line down the stretch, after making just 14 of 25 over the game's first 36-plus minutes.

Trinity continued to dominate the glass in the second half, finishing with a 28-11 advantage after halftime and a 53-22 edge for the game.  The Bantams had 32 points in the paint and 21 second-chance points to just 10 points in the paint and six second-chance points for the Valiants.  Trinity sophomore forward Shay Ajayi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the way with a game-high 17 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocked shots, while Conaway totaled 12 points and 12 boards off the bench, and Starks finished with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots.  Junior Hart Gliedman (New York, N.Y.) scored 11 points and Ogundeko added 10 points and nine boards for the Bantams.  Maestro led all scorers with 29 points, including 20 in the second half, and added four assists, while Valiant senior forward Jack Branswig (Pleasantville, N.Y.) added seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.