Tuesday, November 26, 2002

TRINITY FALLS SHORT AGAINST EASTERN CONNECTICUT IN HOME OPENER

     Hartford, Conn. – Senior co-captain guard Christopher Morgan (Higganum, Conn.)  notched 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists to lead the visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors to a 72-68 win over the Trinity College Bantams in men’s basketball action this afternoon.  Trinity falls to 1-2 in its home opener with its second loss in a row, while the Warriors improve to 2-1.             

            Eastern Connecticut led, 37-30, at the half, sinking 11 out of 14 free throws and forcing Trinity into 11 turnovers.  The Bantams battled back in the second half, finally taking the lead on a put-back by sophomore forward Darren Baker (Lakehurst, N.J.) with 4:48 remaining in the game.  The Warriors held a 65-58 lead when the Bantams rattled off  10 unanswered points to take a 68-65 lead with just under four minutes left to play.

            The Warriors again used the charity stripe to take back the lead, scoring the game’s final seven points from the line, including the go-ahead free throw by freshman guard Martin Kokoszka (Meriden, Conn.) with under two minutes left in the game.

            Bantam freshman center Tyler Rhoten (Ridgewood, N.J.) led all scorers with 16 points and added a game-high nine rebounds, while Baker tallied 14 points, and senior tri-captain forward Corey Days (Baltimore, Md.) added 12 points, five boards, and two blocks off the bench.  Days made six out of seven shots from the field, but fouled out of the game.  Trinity senior tri-captain forward Ryan Uszenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) had 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and three steals, and sophomore guard John Halas (White Plains, N.Y.) finished with 10 points.

            Senior co-captain guard Gordon Shepard (Waterbury, Conn.) led the Warriors with 14 points, making eight out of 11 shotd from the foul line, and dished out five assists.  Warriors junior forward Michael Kipphut (Meriden, Conn.) added 13 points, and sophomore center Jeroy Smith (New Haven, Conn.) contributed eight points and five boards off the bench.  The Warriors made 25 out of 32 free throws (78.1 percent), while the Bantams made two foul shots in seven attempts for the game.

SCORING

EC- Gordon Shepard 3-6 8-11 14, Michael Kipphut 4-6 (1) 4-6 13, Christopher Morgan 3-12 (1) 6-6 13, Steven Bartunek 3-6 (3) 0-0 9, Jeroy Smith 3-3 2-2 8, Jason Gunn 2-2 2-2 6, Martin Kokoszka 1-4 (1) 3-5 6, Melvin King 1-2 (1) 0-0 3, Tim Kinel 0-1 0-0 0, Frank Williams 0-5 0-0 0.
Totals: 20-47 (7) 25-32 72.

TC- Tyler Rhoten 8-15 0-2 16, Darren Baker 6-12 (1) 1-1 14, Corey Days 6-7 0-2 12, Ryan Uszenski 5-16 (1) 0-0 11, John Halas 4-9 (2) 0-0 10, Shaun Smyth 2-5 0-0 4, Jesse Farrell 0-5 1-2 1, Ben Max 0-1 0-0 0.
Totals: 31-70 (4) 2-7 68.