Athletics News

NESCAC Championship Quarterfinal: Trinity 69, Connecticut College 60

February 23, 2008

HARTFORD, Conn. --An exhilarating and captivating Connecticut College men´s basketball season came to an end Saturday afternoon. The Camels (17-8) suffered a 69-60 setback at Trinity College (19-6)in the Quarterfinal round of the 2008 NESCAC Championship Tournament. Russ Martin (East Longmeadow, Mass.) poured in a game-high 18 points, propelling the hosts to the victory with an 8-for-11 shooting performance. Sophomore Shavar Bernier (Dover, N.H.) poured in a team-high 17 points for Connecticut College, shooting 5-for-9 from beyond the arc.

The Camels notched 17 victories in 2007-2008, the highest win total for the program since 2001. Connecticut College posted an efficient 68% winning percentage, playing six of its 25 games against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2007.

Senior forward Charles Stone (Hackensack, N.J.) tallied eight points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Camels. Stone completes his decorated career with 1,380 points, 719 rebounds and 276 assists.

Jeff Young (East Hartford, Conn.) and Billy Karis (Potsdam, N.Y.) finished with nine points apiece for Connecticut College. Karis was 4-for-5 from the field, adding four assists for the visitors. Scott Siedor (Bloomfield, Conn.) was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field, tallying six points off the Camel bench.

Connecticut College head coach Tom Satran was proud of his seniors and the progression of the program in a memorable season for Camel fans.

"We didn't handle the ball today as well as we would have liked but Trinity´s defense had a lot to do with that," Satran stated. "They forced us into some tough situations where we didn't counter their pressure as well as we would have liked. It is a tough day for our team, particularly our three seniors, but we can take pride in the fact that our senior class that won five games as freshman and were able to play so well and win 17 as seniors."

In a defensive struggle, Trinity carried a 21-16 lead into the half. The Bantams opened things up in the second stanza, taking a commanding 41-22 lead with a field goal by Robert Taylor (Dorchester, Mass.) with 12:32 to play. The Camels caught fire from the outside, knocking down five consecutive threes, cutting the Bantam lead to nine at 56-47 with 4:27 remaining. But the hosts were able to convert seven of their final nine attempts at the foul line to seal the victory.

Connecticut College shot 73% (16-for-22) from the field and 69% (9-for-13) from three-point distance in the second stanza.

For more information contact: William Tomasian (860) 439-2501; william.tomasian@conncoll.edu