MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The fourth-ranked Trinity College Men's Basketball team powered past host Middlebury College, 56-41, in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tilt at Pepin Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. The Bantams rise to 21-1 on the season and 7-1 in the NESCAC, while the Panthers drop to 5-4 in conference and 11-12 overall.
After the Panthers registered the opening bucket, the Bantams held Middlebury scoreless over the next ten minutes of play. Junior Will Dorion scored Trinity's first five points, followed by three-pointers from graduate Dana Smith, sophomore Henry Vetter and sophomore Drew Lazarre to push the Bantams ahead 17-2 with 7:47 on the clock. Leading 20-8 with 3:25 on the clock, Trinity closed the first half with buckets from Smith, Vetter and senior Sean Okpoebo to hold a 26-11 edge at the break.
The Panthers opened the second half with five straight points to close the gap to 26-16 with 19:02 on the clock. The Bantams regained control with a 12-4 run, ignited by back-to-back treys from Vetter and capped off by a three-point play from sophomore Jarrel Okorougo to hand the Bantams a 36-20 lead at the 15:32 mark. The Panthers worked at the deficit with a 14-8 run over the next seven minutes to close the gap to 44-34 with 8:08 remaining, but the Bantams halted the momentum with a eight unanswered points to rebuild a 52-34 advantage. The pace slowed over the final minutes and the Bantams used baskets from Vetter and Okorougo to lock up the 56-41 win.
Vetter powered the Bantams with a game-high 18 points, a game-high six rebounds and three assists. Senior Ben Callahan-Gold chipped in 11 points and four rebounds, while Smith and Okorougo tallied seven points apiece.
The Panthers outrebounded the Bantams, 38-29, while Trinity controlled the paint, 24-14. The Bantams connected on 22-of-55 (40%) from the floor, including 9-of-25 (36%) from three-point range, and 3-of-4 (75%) from the foul line. Middlebury shot 13-of-50 (26%) from the field, 3-of-19 (15.8%) from three-point, and 12-of-15 (80%) from the free throw stripe.
The Bantams will be back on the court with a NESCAC road trip to Bates College Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled from 7:00 p.m.
TRINITY ATHLETICS
