HARTFORD, Conn. – The fifth-ranked Trinity College Men's Basketball team cruised past visiting Hamilton College, 8-51, in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) clash at Oosting Gymnasium Friday night. The Bantams rise to 19-0 on the season and 5-0 in the NESCAC, while the Continentals hold a 3-3 mark in conference and a 9-10 record overall.
Junior Will Dorion completed a three-point play at the 15:38 mark of the first half as the Bantams opened the game on a 16-6 run. The Continentals trimmed the deficit to 19-11 with 13:15 on the clock, but Trinity responded with a 10-3 run, capped by a three-pointer from senior Sean Okpoebo, to hold a 29-14 lead. Following a five-point spurt from Hamilton, the Bantams rattled off a 12-4 run over the next five minutes, featuring six points from senior Ben Callahan-Gold, to extend the lead to 41-23. The sides traded buckets over the final three minutes to set the score at 47-29 heading into halftime.
Trinity sophomore Henry Vetter knocked down a pair of buckets early in the second half, and then sophomore Trevor McDonald ripped down an offensive rebound and found junior Sean Macarchuk on the perimeter for a three-pointer to padded the Bantams lead to 58-36 with 12:58 on the clock. The Bantams orchestrated a 14-7 run over the next five minutes, punctuated by a three-pointer from Callahan-Gold to the Bantams their largest lead of the game, 72-43. The Trinity bench added eight points down the stretch to secure the 80-51 victory.
"I thought we got back to the way we capable of playing defensively and that was the difference tonight," said Trinity Head Coach James Cosgrove. "If we can be on the same page and be gritty on the defensive side, I think we have a chance to be very good. We did a good job of sharing the ball tonight, the guys moved the ball well, played together and were unselfish, and those are the things we are about. Amherst is coming off a big win at Wesleyan, so they'll be a tough opponent, one of our toughest all year, so we need to be ready, be focused and come out ready to battle."
Trinity had 12 players register points in the win, led by Vetter with a game-high 14 points, three rebounds and two assists. Callahan-Gold tallied 11 points with a game-high eight rebounds, while graduate Dana Smith and sophomore Jarrel Okorougo netted nine points each. Dorion dished out a game-high five assists with five points in the win.
The Bantams outrebounded the Continentals, 36-28, and recorded more points in the paint (36-20) and bench points (32-21). Trinity converted 27-of-55 (49.1%) from the field, including 8-of-23 (34.8%) from three-point, and 18-of-19 (94.7%) from the foul line. Hamilton shot 18-of-50 (36.0%) from the floor, 3-of-21 (14.3%) from three-point and 12-of-17 (70.6%) from the free throw stripe.
The Bantams return to action when they welcome Hamilton College to Oosting Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
TRINITY ATHLETICS
