Medford, Mass. – The #4 Trinity College men's basketball program kept it close for the duration of Saturday's contest, but in a physical contest on the road, ultimately fell to the top-seeded Tufts University Jumbos in the NESCAC Semifinal, 87-73. The Bantams made it a game late in the second half, but couldn't keep the Jumbos (19-6, 8-2 NESCAC) off the board, falling in its first semifinal contest in over a decade.

Trinity (17-9, 6-4 NESCAC) played stout defense, but credit to the Jumbos from the field; the hosts buried 50% of its opportunities from the floor and knocked down 10-of-21 from beyond the arc, including seven in the second half. The Bantams committed just nine turnovers in the loss, and out-rebounded Tufts 46-39 on the evening.

Both teams traded baskets through the opening four minutes, with Trinity seeing four of its five starters on the scoreboard before its first wave of subs. Senior Nick Seretta (Greenfield, Mass.) recorded four points in 60 seconds, giving the Bantams a 10-6 lead at the 15-minute marker. A three from Eric Savage and a put-back layup from Brennan Morris made it 14-13.

Ensuing Trinity's first timeout, both teams traded baskets before a Luke Rodgers and-one gave Tufts a three-point lead. From there, the hosts went on an 8-0 run before the Bantams responded. Senior Jadakis Brooks (Elmira, N.Y.) sank two quick baskets before drawing a technical foul; his free throw made it a five-point, 30-25 game with 5:37 remaining in the first.

The Bantams continued to chip away at the first half lead. A 35-foot three from junior Colin Donovan (Westborough, Mass.) was followed by a tip-in from junior Donald Jorden (Tampa, Fla.) to bring the Bantams within three; Tufts responded with buckets from Carson Cohen Brennan Morris before first-year Steven Lora (North Providence, R.I.) knocked down a three, making it 40-35. Both sides had a chance to score in the final seconds of the period, but the score remained 40-35 after the first half.

The Jumbos opened the second half with eight quick points, seeing two deep threes from Brennan Morris and a layup from Eric Savage. Senior Christian Porydzy (South Glastonbury, Conn.) went on his own run to counter, hitting a three before a layup cut the lead back down to nine.

From the 15-minute marker to just outside 10 minutes left in the second half, the Bantams kept it within a 10-point ballgame. If Tufts shot well in the first half, however, it shot even better in the second; the hosts buried five of its first six threes in the opening minutes of the frame, building the lead to as many as 20.

The Jumbos continued to apply the pressure, never letting go of its 15+ point lead. The Bantams had open looks late and cut the lead to 14 on threes from Seretta and Donovan, but the Jumbos took care of business down the stretch, hitting key free throws to advance to the NESCAC Championship contest.

Porydzy finished the game with a team-high 13 points; while Donovan chipped in 11, Seretta finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Jordan was the only Bantam with rebounds in the double digits, finishing with 12 while adding in six points. The Jumbos saw four players in double-digits, with Morris and Rogers with 17 apiece.

Saturday's loss marks the final contest for seniors Seretta, Brooks, Porydzy, Kyle Padmore (Milton, Mass.), Joe Saba (Rindge, N.H.), and Joseph Bell (Manchester, N.H.). The six seniors helped the program reach its first semifinal since 2008, where the Bantams took home its only NESCAC title.