WINDHAM, Conn. – The 11
th-ranked Trinity College Men's Basketball team defeated host Eastern Connecticut State, 65-59, in a non-conference clash at Geissler Gymnasium Friday night. The Bantams improve to 2-0, while the Warriors slide to 1-2 on the season.
What Happened:
- Play was tight throughout the first half with no more than two possessions separating the squads. The Warriors used three-pointers from Cooper Steele, Julian Sanchez, and James Kersten to build a 17-12 lead, but John Spinoso connected on a triple, along with free throws from Samuel Norris to knot the game at 17-17.
- Jared Berry netted three straight buckets, followed by buckets from Jadon Holmes and Tristan Davis, as the Bantams took a 28-27 edge. Following a three-pointer from Julian Sanchez, Berry delivered a final layup to knot the score at 30-30 at the break.
- The sides continued to exchange buckets early in the second half. Down 47-46 with 12 minutes on the clock, Berry potted four straight points followed by a bucket from Davis to hand the Bantams their largest lead of the game, 52-47, with 10:33 on the clock.
- The Bantams maintained their advantage with a basket from Berry and free throws from Kobe Closeil, and then a steal and fastbreak layup from David Ayles helped Trinity to a 60-55 lead. The Bantams kept the Warriors off the scoreboard with a turnover and a blocked shot, and then Norris delivered a tip-in bucket followed by a free throw from Ayles to ice the game away.
Inside the Boxscore:
- Field Goals: Trinity 23-61 (37.7%), Eastern Connecticut 20-46 (43.5%)
- 3-PT Field Goals: Trinity 2-15 (13.3%), Eastern Connecticut 9-19 (47.4%)
- Free Throws: Trinity 17-22 (77.3%), Eastern Connecticut 7-16 (43.8%)
- Rebounds: Trinity 47, Eastern Connecticut 26
- Steals: Trinity 10, Eastern Connecticut 9
- Turnovers: Trinity 12, Eastern Connecticut 15
- Points off Turnovers: Trinity 20, Eastern Connecticut 7
- Points in the Paint: Trinity 36, Eastern Connecticut 16
- Bench Points: Trinity 14, Eastern Connecticut 20
- Berry led all scorers with a game-high 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
- Davis logged a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including a career-high 10 offensive rebounds, while Norris grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds with six points. Ayles and Holmes added seven points apiece in the win.
- Sanchez led the Warriors with 13 points and nine rebounds, Drew Soltis tallied eight points, seven rebounds and three assists, and Kehari Walker notched eight points and two rebounds.
Up Next:
- The Bantams will look to remain in the win column when they host the University of St. Joseph's (Maine) at Ray Oosting Gymnasium on Monday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
- All-time, Trinity owns a 1-0 record against the Monks with their lone meeting occurring during the 1979-80 season.
