NEW LONDON, Conn. - Mike Buscetto had 31 points and nine assists to lead the Mitchell College Mariners to am 86-77 win over the visiting Trinity College Bantams in men's basketball action this evening at Yarnall Athletic Center.  Trinity falls to 14-3 with its second loss in a row, while the Mariners improve to 12-3.  The Bantams, which led, 42-30, at halftime, will host New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rival Wesleyan on Saturday at 3 p.m.  Junior Gilbert Otoo (Burtonsville, Md.) paced the Bantams with 21 points and eight rebounds.

Trinity used a 7-0 run build a 14-6 lead early but fell behind, 20-18, with 6:42 left in the first half.  The Bantams erupted for 24 points in a span of 6:26, including 11 by Otoo, to take the 12-point lead into the locker room at halftime.  A three-pointer by senior C.J. Redd (Peekskill, N.Y.) gave Trinity a 52-37 advantage 4:11 into the second stanza before the Mariners scored 20 of the next 27 points to cut their deficit to 59-57 with 7:32 on the clock.  Bantam senior forward Dana Smith (Providence, R.I.) made a free throw to give Trinity its last lead at 66-65 with 4:03 remaining.  Buscetto scored four points in a row to push Mitchell ahead, as the Mariners scored 21 points in the last four minutes to pull away.

Smith and rookie Henry Vetter (Kenilworth, Ill.) both scored in double figures off the Trinity bench with 10 and 13 points, respectively, while Smith also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots. Sophomore Will Dorion (Needham, Mass.) notched eight points, five rebounds, and five assists, and Redd scored nine points.  The Bantams outrebounded Mitchell, 38-23, but committed 22 turnovers.  Alfonzo Stokes and Jalen Benson scored 15 points apiece for Mitchell.