HARTFORD, Conn. - Junior center Ben Callahan-Gold (New York, N.Y.) notched 20 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and two blocks to lead the Trinity College Bantams to an 82-62 victory over the visiting Bates College Bobcats in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's basketball action this evening on Ogrodnik Court as Oosting Gymnasium.  Trinity improves to 15-7 overall and 4-5 in the NESCAC, while the Bobcats drop to 7-15 overall and 1-7 in the league.  The Bantams, which clinched its ninth-straight appearance in the NESCAC Championship Tournament with tonight's victory, will close the regular season against conference foe Tufts tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Trinity used a 13-0 run to turn a 9-9 tie into a 23-9 lead eight minutes into the first half and held Bates off several times the rest of the way.  Bantam senior C.J. Redd (Peekskill, N.Y.) and Callahan-Gold scored the first eight points during the run, followed by a three-pointer by junior Sean Okpoebo (Leominster, Mass.), and a layup by rookie guard Henry Vetter (Kenilworth, Ill.).  The Bobcats fought their way back and cut their deficit to 36-33 at the break.  Callahan-Gold had eight points and Bates' Jahmir Primer led all scorers with nine at the break.  Callahan-Gold scored six straight points early in the second half to push Trinity's advantage back into double digits at 43-33 at the 17:48 mark,  Trinity rookie forward Jarrel Okorougo (Stoneham, Mass.) scored eight points in just over two minutes to give the Bantams a 19-point lead at 68-49 with just under eight minutes remaining, and the home team maintained a comfortable cushion the rest of the way. 

Okorougo joined Callahan-Gold in double figures in scoring with 12 points, fellow rookie Trevor McDonald (Natick, Mass.) had eight points and nine boards, and Vetter and sophomore guard Will Dorion (Needham, Mass.) combined for 17 points and 11 assists.  Trinity shot 52.8 percent from the field (30-57) but just 58.6 percent from the foul line (17-29).  The Bantams outrebounded Bates, 44-29. Elliott Cravitz paced the Bobcats with 13 points and Devin Harris totaled eight points, seven rebounds, three steals, and a block.