HARTFORD, Conn. – The top-ranked Trinity College Men's Basketball team defeated visiting Suffolk University, 77-53, in the opening game of the 2025 Trinity College Men's Basketball Holiday Tournament at Ray Oosting Gymnasium Tuesday evening. The Bantams rise to 9-0 overall, while the Rams drop to 6-3 on the season.
 
What Happened:

• Play was tight over the opening minutes of the contest until Jarrel Okorougo sandwiched a pair of buckets around a layup from Drew Lazarre to hand Trinity a 15-8 lead.
• The Rams evened the score at 15-15 on a triple from Harrison Neil, but Trinity created separation with a 16-3 run, featuring four-point efforts from Jared Berry and Paul Ippolito, to grab a 31-18 advantage with 3:36 on the clock.
• Lazarre knocked down a three-pointer, followed by a fastbreak layup from Tristan Davis to give the Bantams a 36-25 lead at the half.
• Back-to-back three-pointers from Nick Verdile helped the Rams close the gap to 41-31with 16:51 to play.
• The Bantams padded their lead with a 13-5 run, capped by a layup from Bangaly Berete, to gain a 54-36 lead with 11:43 on the clock.
• Trinity used four points from Samuel Norris and Okorougo to extend the lead, but Suffolk remained in striking distance at 63-51.
• Henry Vetter and Kobe Closeil delivered five points apiece down the stretch to lock up the 77-53 win.

 
Inside the Numbers:

• The Bantams shot 50.8% (31-of-61) from the floor, including 30.8% (4-of-13) from three-point range, and 68.8% (11-of-16) from the foul line.
• The Rams converted 33.9% (20-of-59) from the field, 30.4% (7-of-23) from three-point, and 42.9% (6-of-14) from the free throw line.
• Rebounds: Trinity 40, Suffolk 35
• Turnovers: Suffolk 13, Trinity 7
• Points off Turnovers: Trinity 12, Suffolk 6
• Points in the Paint: Trinity 46, Suffolk 18
• Bench Points: Trinity 30, Suffolk 19
• Okorougo led the Bantams with a team-high 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds, along with two rebounds.
• Lazarre netted 12 points with six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal, while Tristan Davis tallied 10 points with seven rebounds.
• Nick Verdile paced Suffolk with a game-high 15 points, shooting 4-of-6 from three-point, with two assists.
• Connor Strickland added nine points and four rebounds, while James Jones grabbed a team-high sic rebounds.

 
Up Next:

• The Bantams will return to action when they host Albertus Magnus in the Tournament Championship Game Wednesday, December 31 at 2:30 p.m.
• All-time, Trinity holds a 12-3 record against the Falcons, dating back to their first meeting in 1991-92.
• After a 12-year hiatus, the Bantams defeated the Falcons, 81-59, last season.