Danbury, Conn.- Freshman forward Tyler Rhoten (Ridgewood, N.J.) scored a game-high 22 points, sinking nine out of 12 shots from the field, and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the visiting Trinity College Bantams to a 75-71 win over the Western Connecticut State University Colonials in men’s basketball action this evening at Feldman Gymnasium. Trinity snaps a two-game losing streak and evens its record at 2-2, while the Colonials drop to 2-2.
The first half was played at a frenzied pace with both teams pushing the ball up and down the floor. Trinity gained its first lead at 15-14 on a 10-foot jumper by sophomore guard John Halas (White Plains, N.Y.), and the teams exchanged leads for the remainder of the first 20 minutes for a 37-35 score at the half in favor of Western Connecticut.
With the Colonials ahead, 39-37, and 18:12 left to play in the game, Trinity went on a 12-0 run to take a 49-39 lead. Bantam sophomore guard Jesse Farrell (Minneapolis, Minn.) started the rally, driving the lane for an old-fashioned three-point play, followed by a long range three by Halas, consecutive lay-ups by Rhoten, and a short jumper by freshman forward Kevin Reed (Downsville, N.Y.).
The Colonials fought back and tied the score at 60-60 on a 15-footer by junior forward Marvin Evans (Stratford, Conn.) with 6:20 on the clock. The teams stayed within a basket of each other until less than two minutes remained, when consecutive three-pointers from the top of the key by senior tri-captain forward Ryan Uszenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) gave the Bantams a 72-69 advantage at the one minute mark.
Colonial senior guard Casey Bock (Danbury, Conn.) cut the Trinity lead to one at 72-71 on a jumper from the foul line, but a tip-in and a foul shot by Bantam senior tri-captain forward Corey Days (Baltimore, Md.) put the game out of reach.
Halas joined Rhoten in double figures in scoring for Trinity with 14 points, along with four assists, while Uszenski had 10 points and three assists, and Farrell dished out eight assists. Evans paced Western Connecticut with 18 points and five boards, and junior forward Andoni Alberdi (Windsor, Conn.) notched 14 points and a pair of blocked shots.
| Teams | 1st | 2nd | OT | Final |
| Trinity, Conn. (2-2) | 35 | 40 | -- | 75 |
| Western Conn. (2-2) | 37 | 34 | -- | 70 |
SCORING
TC- Tyler Rhoten 9-12 4-4 22, John Halas 6-12 2-2 14, Ryan Uszenski 4-14 (2) 0-0
10, Darren Baker 2-8 (1) 2-2 7, Shaun Smyth 3-7 (1) 0-1 7, Kevin Reed 3-4 0-0 6,
Jesse Farrell 2-5 (1) 1-1 6, Corey Days 1-1 1-2 3, Ben Max 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals: 30-63 (5) 10-12 75.
WC- Marvin
Evans 8-11 2-2 18, Andoni Alberdi 6-13 (2) 0-3 14, Michael Wilson 4-7 0-0 8,
Casey Bock 3-7 (1) 1-1 8, Jay Reginatto 3-6 (2) 0-0 8, Jason Barnett 3-3 1-3 7,
Kimani Crawford 1-1 2-2 4, Aitor Alberdi 1-6 0-0 2, Lamik Stuckey 1-4 0-0 2,
Brice Assie 0-1 0-2 0, Bryan Jacobwitz 0-3 0-0 0.
Totals: 30-62 (5) 6-13 71.