Saturday, February 15, 2003

RHOTEN POWERS TRINITY MEN’S HOOPS TO
WIN AT CONN. COLLEGE IN SEASON FINALE
Bantams to Play at Nearby Wesleyan in NESCAC Tourney

New London, Conn.- Freshman forward Tyler Rhoten (Ridgewood, N.J.) totaled game-highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead the visiting Trinity College Bantams to an 82-71 win over the Connecticut College Camels in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men’s basketball season finale for both teams this afternoon.  Trinity finishes at 15-8 overall and 5-4 in the league, and has qualified for its third consecutive NESCAC Championship Tournament.  The Camels close out the year at 7-16 overall and 1-8 in the league, while failing to qualify for the league tourney for the first time.

The Bantams will be the No. 5 seed in the eight-team tournament, and will visit No. 4-seeded Wesleyan on Sat., Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.  Trinity lost twice against Wesleyan during the season, 76-73, in the Skidmore Invitational in December and, 81-80, in Hartford last night.

Trinity led for the majority of the first half before one of 14 three-pointers in the game by the Camels gave the hosts the lead with four minutes left before intermission.  Bantam senior tri-captain forward Corey Days (Baltimore, Md.) beat the buzzer with a base line jumper to give Trinity a 36-35 advantage at the break.

The Bantams went on a 15-0 run to open the second stanza, paced by eight points from Rhoten.  The Camels, who attempted 43 three-pointers in the game, cut the lead to seven points at 73-66 with 1:38 on the clock but could get no closer. 

Days notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards, while sophomore guard John Halas (White Plains, N.Y.) added 15 points, making four out of six from three-point range, seven rebounds, and three steals, and senior tri-captain forward Ryan Uszenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) tallied 12 points, seven boards, and four assists.  Trinity sophomore guard Jesse Farrell (Minneapolis, Minn.) had 11 points, sinking all eight of his free throws, and five assists.

Senior guard Kevin Herrington (Everett, Mass.) paced Connecticut College with 16 points, and classmate Joe Tremblay (Lebanon, Conn.) came off the bench for 12 points, all on three-pointers.  Senior forward Travis Reid (Jamaica, N.Y.) and freshman guard Andrew Walker (Lansdowne, Pa.) each finished with 10 points, while Walker added six boards for the Camels.

SCORING
TC- Tyler Rhoten 9-16 6-6 24, John Halas 5-9 (4) 1-4 15, Ryan Uszenski 5-20 2-2 12, Jesse Farrell 1-3 (1) 8-8 11, Corey Days 3-8 4-4 10, Darren Baker 4-6 0-0 8, Aaron Goldstein 0-2 2-6 2, Shaun Smyth 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals: 27-65 (5) 23-30 82.

CC- Kevin Herrington 5-13 (3) 3-4 16, Joe Tremblay 4-11 (4) 0-2 12, Andrew Walker 3-7 (1) 3-4 10, Travis Reid 2-9 (1) 5-5 10, Danny Melzer 3-7 (1) 2-2 9, Rob Wilson 3-8 (3) 0-0 9, Bryan Gregg 1-3 (1) 0-0 3, Michael Strangfeld 1-6 0-0 2, Gabe Bluestone 0-1 0-0 0, John Cranshaw 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 22-65 (14) 13-17 71.