MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The #1-ranked Trinity College Men's Basketball team kicked off New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play with a 79-62 victory over host Middlebury College at Pepin Gymnasium Friday night. The Bantams improve to 13-0 overall and 1-0 in conference, while the Panthers sit at 6-6 on the season and 0-1 in NESCAC.
 
What Happened:

• Knotted at 8-8 early in the first quarter, the Bantams ripped off a 16-6 run to build a 24-14 lead with 8:54 on the clock.
• Trinity used triples from Lazarre and Henry Vetter, along with a pair of buckets from Jarrel Okorougo to extend their lead to 34-22.
• Leading 36-27 with less than two minutes on the clock, the Bantams closed the frame on a 9-0 run, featuring treys from Samuel Norris and Lazarre to hold a 45-27 lead at the half.
• Trinity maintained their double-digit lead throughout the second half as a three-pointer from Paul Ippolito and free throws from Bangaly Berete and Norris set the score at 55-34 at the 12:10 mark. Vetter and David Ayles combined for 17 points down the stretch to seal the 79-62 victory.

 
Inside the Numbers:

• The Bantams connected on 42.6% (26-of-61) from the floor, including 40.9% (9-of-22) from long range, and 75% (18-of-24) from the free throw line.
• The Panthers shot 47.1% (24-of-51) from the field, 20% (4-of-20) from three-point, and 47.6% (10-of-21) from the charity stripe.
• Rebounds: Middlebury 37, Trinity 35
• Turnovers: Trinity 5, Middlebury 16
• Points off Turnovers: Trinity 14, Middlebury 6
• Points in the Paint: Middlebury 34, Trinity 30
• Bench Points: Trinity 26, Middlebury 23
• Vetter paced the Bantams offense with a game-high 20 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the floor, with four rebounds and three steals.
• Lazarre tallied 15 points with three rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Jared Berry added nine points and eight rebounds.
• Ayles, Norris and Okorougo added seven points apiece in the win.
• Ian Murray led the Panthers with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal, and Edward Witherington chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

 
Up Next:

• The Bantams will be back on the court when they travel to Williams College (7-6, 1-0 NESCAC) for a NESCAC clash in Williamstown at 3:00 p.m.
• This will be the 100^th meeting of the two squads, with Trinity owning a 33-66 record against the Ephs, dating back to their first matchup during the 1905-06 season.
• Williams has won four of the last five games versus the Bantams, including a 56-51 victory in Hartford last season.