HARTFORD, Conn. – The top-ranked Trinity College Men's Basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat visiting Babson College, 71-61, in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament at Ray Oosting Gymnasium Saturday night. The Bantams rise to 27-2 on the season, while the Beavers wrap with a 22-7 record.
 
What Happened:

• The Beavers controlled the pace during the first half, maintaining the lead throughout the period as a bucket from Timmy O'Toole handed Babson a 6-2 lead in the opening minutes.
• Trailing 19-12 at the 8:59 mark, the Bantams used a four-point play from Drew Lazarre to close the gap to 24-20 with 6:33 remaining.
• Henry Vetter and Thomas Ferdinando each netted five points in the final minutes of the first half to set the score at 31-27 at the break.
• The Beavers held Trinity to three points during the opening five minutes of the second half as five points from Timmy Mulvey helped the lead expand to 40-30.
• With 11:27 remaining, the Bantams began their rally as Jared Berry netted seven points over the next three minutes to help trim the gap to 46-45. A jumper from Vetter, a triple from Lazarre and a steal and fastbreak layup from Berry shifted the momentum as Trinity moved ahead 52-46.
• The Beavers pulled within one possession as five points from Ryan Frauenheim set the score at 54-53, but Trinity responded with a 9-0 run to rebuild a 63-53 advantage.
• Babson cut into the deficit in the final minutes, but the Bantams locked up the win with free throws from Vetter and Tristan Davis, and a breakaway layup from Lazarre to close out the 71-61 victory.

 
Inside the Numbers:

• The Bantams shot 51% (25-of-49) from the floor, including 31.3% (5-of-16) from three-point range, and 80% (16-of-20) from the foul line.
• The Beavers connected on 48.1% (25-of-52) from the field, 31.6% (6-of-19) from beyond the arc, and 62.5% (5-of-8) from the charity stripe.
• Rebounds: Trinity 30, Babson 24
• Steals: Trinity 8, Babson 8
• Turnovers: Trinity 14, Babson 14
• Points off Turnovers: Trinity 16, Babson 16
• Points in the Paint: Trinity 36, Babson 26
• Bench Points: Trinity 22, Babson 10
• Vetter led all scorers with a game-high 20 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul line, with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
• Lazarre tallied 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Berry netted 11 points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench.
• Okorougo added nine points and three rebounds, and Tristan Davis notched seven points and six rebounds.
• Babson had five players in double-figures, paced by 15 points and three rebounds from Mulvey.
• Ferdinando posted 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Tyler Lauder grabbed a game-high eight rebounds with 11 points and four assists. O'Toole and Frauenheim added 10 points apiece.

Up Next:

• The Bantams will face Hood College (26-3) in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship on March 13 – March 14. Game day and time is to be determined.
• This will be the first meeting between the two schools in program history.