PAST CONNECTICUT COLLEGE
Sophomore forward Tyler Rhoten (Ridgewood, N.J.) totaled a game-high of 29 points, sinking 12 out of 15 shots from the field and all five of his free throws, and added eight rebounds, and three steals to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 99-61 win over the visiting Connecticut College Camels in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men’s basketball action this afternoon at Oosting Gymnasium.
Trinity, ranked No. 6 in the nation, improves to 20-2 overall and 7-2 in the NESCAC, while the Camels drop to 5-17 overall and 0-9 in the league with their seventh straight loss. The Bantam will be the No. 2 seed in the NESCAC Championship Tournament, and will host a quarterfinal game on Sat., Feb. 21 against a to-be-determined No. 7 seed. The semifinals and finals will be at the site of the highest remaining seed on Feb. 28 and 29. The Bantams close the regular season at Hunter on Tue., Feb. 17.
Trinity opened up a 20-9 lead in the opening five minutes and extended its lead to 20 points in the last two minutes of the first half in its regular season, home finale. The Bantams shot 63.9 percent from the field in the first stanza and 55.1 percent for the game, as Rhoten tallied 16 of his points in the opening 20 minutes. Trinity continued its offensive onslaught in the second half, building its largest lead at 95-55 on a free throw by freshman guard Patrick Hasiuk (Enfield, Conn.) with 3:11 left in the game.
Bantam senior tri-captain guard Shaun Smyth (Manchester, Conn.) scored 16 points in his last regular season home game, while junior tri-captain guard John Halas (White Plains, N.Y.) totaled 17 points, including three treys, and four steals. Bantam freshman forward Robert Taylor (Dorchester Center, Mass.) came off the bench to tally 10 points and seven boards, and junior tri-captain guard Jesse Farrell (Minneapolis, Minn.) distributed a game-high nine assists. Junior center Craig Coupe (Niskayuna, N.Y.) recorded nine points a game-high 13 boards and four blocked shots. Camel freshman center Sokol Zejnullahu (Peja, Kosovo) scored a team-high 16 points with six rebounds, and freshman forward Gabe Patton (Lynnfield, Mass.) added 12 points and 11 boards.
Connecticut Coll. (5-17) 36-25--61
Trinity, Conn. (20-2) 60-39--99