WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - Senior tri-captain Tyler Mola (Leominster, Mass.) came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points, 18 in a seven-minute span in the first half, and lead the visiting Trinity College Bantams to a 75-65 win over the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors in the finals of the Eastern Connecticut State University Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament at Geissler Gymnasium this afternoon.  The Bantams, which downed Mitchell, 113-91, in its opening-round game yesterday, are off to a 2-0 start, while the Warriors fall to 1-2.  Trinity has another tournament up next when the Bantams face Kean in the first round of the A.J. Buchanan Classic at Manhattanville College on Friday night. 

Eastern Connecticut jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind a three pointer by senior guard Cory Muckle and layup by junior forward Quinton Lott (Bridgeport). Trinity responded when junior forwards Dana Smith (Providence, R.I.) and C.J. Redd (Peekskill, N.Y.) knocked down a jumper and a three pointer, respectively, to even thing back up in the early going. Mola got off the pine and scored nine straight points via two long-range three pointers and a traditional three-point play amidst a pair of Warrior baskets to bring the game back to a tie. The Bantams took their first lead of the game with 7:32 remaining in the first half following a layup from senior center Jared Whitt (Hanover, Mass.), 25-23.  Trinity extended its lead to eight with seven straight points all from their sophomore forward Gilbert Otoo (Burtonsville, Md.). Mola scored six more points in a row to help the visitors lead by seven, 41-34, at the break.

Eastern Connecticut knotted the game up at 61-all with under six minutes to go in regulation. Trinity responded with a 7-0 run and held a comfortable advantage the rest of the way.  Otoo, who had 27 points against Mitchell in his collegiate debut, added 16 points and was named as the Tournament MVP, while Redd scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds.  Senior tri-captain Donald Jorden (Tampa, Fla.) grabbed 10 rebounds and rookie guard Will Dorion (Newton, Mass.) dished out four assists.  Mola made four of his eight tries from beyond the arc to account for 12 of his career-high total and joined Otoo on the all-tournament team.  Cory Muckle paced Eastern Connecticut with 19 points and Quinton Lott had 13 rebounds.  Tyreice Lee and Max Woods represented the Warriors on the all-tournament squad.