HARTFORD, Conn. – The Trinity College Men's Basketball team will welcome Keene State University, Clark University and Neumann University to Oosting Gymnasium for the First and Second Round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Friday & Saturday. The first game will feature Keene State versus Clark at 4:40 p.m., followed by Trinity against Neumann at 7:10 p.m. The winners will advance to the Second Round on Saturday at 7:10 p.m.
 
Bantam Bytes

• The Bantams enter the Tournament with a 24-3 record with an 8-2 mark in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).
• Trinity claimed their second straight NESCAC Men's Basketball crown with a 75-67 victory over third-ranked Wesleyan University in the Championship Game.
• The Bantams checked in at #4 in the latest D3hoops.com Poll, moving up two spots from sixth.
• Offensively, Trinity is shooting 44.3% from the field, including 34.5% from three-point range, and 77.2% from the foul line.
• The Bantams boast one of the top defensive units in the country, leading the Nation in field goal percentage defense (.352) and scoring defense (56.3).
• Junior Jarrel Okorougo was selected as the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference after averaging 11.6 points per game, shooting 50.7% from the field, with 6.8 rebounds per game.
• Junior Henry Vetter was a First Team All-Conference selection for the second straight season after leading the Bantams with a team-high 15.3 points per game, ranking eighth in the NESCAC.
• Junior Drew Lazarre was a Second Team selection after registering career-highs in points (307), rebounds (155), field goals made (107), assists (61), three-point field goals made (54), steals (33), and blocks (25).

 
Scouting Neumann

• The Knights enter the Tournament with a 20-7 record, including a 9-3 mark in the Atlantic East Conference (AEC).
• Neumann is making their first NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament for the first time since 2022 with an 83-77 overtime victory over Marymount University in the AEC Championship game.
• The Knights are generating 79.7 points per game, shooting 46.8% from the floor, including 33.9% from three-point range.
• Defensively, Neumann is surrendering 72.2 points per game with opponents connecting at a 43.5% clip from the field and 32.4% from long range.
• The Knights had three players earn Atlantic East All-Conference honors, led by AEC Player of the Year, junior Donte Dupriest.
• Dupriest, the AEC Tournament MVP, is averaging a double-double with 18.9 points and 15.1 rebounds per game, logging 13 double-doubles in 15 games with Neumann.
• Junior DJ Earl, a Second Team All-AEC selection, is averaging 17.1 points per game and was fourth in the AEC in field goal percentage, sixth in free throw percentage, and third in three-pointers per game. 
• All-AEC Second Team recipient, T.J. Lewis finished sixth in the Atlantic East Conference in scoring with 13.4 points per game and led the AEC in free throw percentage, dropping 81.1% from the line.

Scouting Keene State

• The Owls enter the Tournament with a 22-5 record, owning a 14-2 mark in the Little East Conference (LEC).
• Keene State won their fourth-straight LEC Tournament Championship to punch their ticket to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.
• The Owls possess the eighth-highest scoring offense in the country, producing 89.2 points per game, while shooting 45.5% from the field, 35.6% from three-point and 76.9% from the foul line.
• The Keene State defense is giving up 75.0 points per game with opponents converting 42.4% from the field and 33.3% from three-point.
• Senior Octavio Brito was the LEC Player of the Year and a First Team All-LEC selection after averaging 22.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 52.5% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc.
• Mason Jean-Baptiste earned Second Team All-LEC and All-LEC Defensive Team honors after 10.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game with 25 steals.
• Senior Spencer Aronson and graduate Nate Siow claimed Second Team All-LEC recognition after chipping in 9.1 and 6.1 points per game, respectively. 

Scouting Clark

• The Cougars enter the Tournament with 18-9 record, featuring a 12-4 mark in the New England Men's & Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).
• Clark won their 17^th NEWMAC Championship with an 80-65 win over #19 Worcester Poly in the Championship Game to punch their ticket to the Tournament.
• The Cougars are manufacturing 75.6 points per game while shooting 42.8% from the floor, including 36% from three-point, and 69.2% from the free throw line.
• The Clark defense is holding opponents to 70.0 points per game while converting 43.5% from the field and 31.6% from three-point.
• Senior Bruce Saintilus was a First Team All-NEWMAC selection after netting 16.9 points per game with 4.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds.
• Senior Kekoa McArdle claimed First Team All-NEWMAC status after nearly averaging a double-double with 11.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 55.2% from the floor.
• Senior Isaish Taylor, a Second Team All-NEWMAC selection, led the Cougars in steals (2.3) with 11.5 points and 3.9 assists per game.

 
NCAA Men's Basketball Division III First Round Schedule
Friday, March 7
4:40 p.m. – Keene State vs. Clark
7:10 p.m. – Neumann vs. Trinity
 
Saturday, March 8
7:10 p.m. – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
 
Click here for Ticket Information