Trinity closes the regular season with a 17-5 overall record and a 7-2 in the NESCAC, while the Bobcats end the regular campaign at 19-5 overall and 6-3 in the league with their third consecutive loss. Trinity finishes in second place in the NESCAC and will host Colby College in a NESCAC Championship Quarterfinal game next weekend. Bates finishes tied for third in the league and will host Bowdoin in the NESCAC Quarterfinals.
Trinity took an early 8-6 lead on a three-pointer by junior guard Kino Clarke (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and stayed ahead for the rest of the game. The Bantams erupted for 53 points in the second half, making 15 out of 28 shots from the field (53.6%) and 19 out of 22 free throws (86.4%). Clarke scored 16 of his 21 points in the second stanza, while junior guard Patrick Martin (Springfield, Mass.) had 10 second-half points for the Bantams. Bates pulled within seven points with 1:15 remaining in the game, after Trinity had led by as 16 points in the second half, on a pair of free throws by junior forward Rob Stockwell (Temple, N.H.). Trinity made eight of 10 foul shots down the stretch to preserve the win.
Patrick Martin and freshman forward Aaron Westbrooks (Dublin, Ireland) each finished with 13 points, while Martin added a game-high 12 assists, and Westbrooks pulled down five rebounds. Trinity sophomore center Russ Martin (East Longmeadow, Mass.) came off the bench to score 11 points and junior forward Michael Hoar (Pembroke, Mass.) blocked four Bates shots. Bobcat junior co-captain guard Zak Ray (Bangor, Maine) tallied 18 of his 21 points in the second half and added 10 assists, three steals, and two blocks, while Stockwell ended up with 18 points, and sophomore guard Bryan Wholey (Marshfield, Mass.) had 15 points.
Bates (19-5) 32-47--79
Trinity, Conn. (17-5) 36-53--89