HARTFORD, Conn. (November 23, 2021) – The Western New England men's basketball team traveled to Trinity College tonight where the Golden Bears lost in overtime 71-68.

Records:

• Trinity: 3-1
• Western New England: 2-4

How It Happened:

The game started with Trinity hitting back-to-back jumpers just 14 seconds apart to lead 4-0. Tim Restall answered for the Golden Bears with a three only for the Bantams to score four more points from Charles Redd. Brian Geitner hit a jumper followed by a three from Jake Harrison to tie the game 8-8. Geitner earned the Golden Bears the first lead of the game with a three to continue Western New England's run. Geitner swished another jumper to make the run 7-0 with Brian Berritto jumping in on the scoring spree to make it a 15-8 lead with 15:51 on the clock. The Bantam's were finally able to stop the Golden Bears' momentum with a couple free throws followed by a layup to get back within three (15-12). Andrew Byfield got on the board with a layup from Gavin Greene to put the Golden Bears ahead 17-12 only for the Bantams to answer with a layup themselves. This kickstarted an eight-point run for Trinity to regain the lead 20-17 with 9:07 left in the half. Kenny Flynn stopped the Bantam's momentum with a layup only for Trinity to answer just 10 seconds later to remain in the lead 22-19. The Bantam's scored four more points before Geitner scored for the Golden Bears to get back within four (26-22) with 3:20 left in the half. With 1:13 left in the half, Berritto hit a jumper before Trinity scored four points to end the half with a 30-24 lead over the Golden Bears.

The Bantams scored the first points of the second half only for Greene to hist a jumper from Restall just seconds later at the 19:10 mark. Points wouldn't be scored again until 17:39 when Trinity made a free throw. Flynn answered just a few short seconds later with a jumper from Geitner to keep the Golden Bears within five (33-28). Trinity then recorded two free throws to Greene's layup followed by a second Restall three from Alec Sikorski to put Western New England within two (35-33). That was the momentum starter the Golden Bears needed with Harrison then recording a layup followed by a jumper from Greene and another two points from Harrison for the Golden Bears to take a 39-35 lead with 11:03 left to play. The Bantams made a layup at 10:18 before Geitner answered for the Golden Bears. Trinity worked to get back in the game trailing Western New England only 41-40 when Harrison made another layup only for the Bantams to answer with a three just seven seconds later to tie the game 43-43. The game was then tied 45-45, 47-47, 49-49, and 51-51 before Trinity made three free throws to take a 54-51 lead with just 2:26 left in the game. A layup by Greene kept the Golden Bears close (54-53) only for the Bantams to make a layup on the very next possession with 50 seconds left in the game. With 30 seconds on the clock, Flynn made a layup from Sikorski to get within one (56-55). With 23 seconds left, the Bantams fouled Sikorski who went to the line and made one of his two to tie the game 56-56 and send it to overtime.

Sikorski opened overtime with a jumper in the first three seconds to put the Golden Bears in the lead 58-56 early. A free throw and a three for Trinity put them in the lead 60-58 with 3:08 on the clock before recording six more points to take a 66-58 lead with just 1:10 remaining. Flynn responded for the Golden Bears with a dunk before the Golden Bears had to start fouling to regain possession down 66-60. A pair of free throws for each team kept Trinity ahead 68-62 with 46 seconds left to play. Another free throw for the Bantams was followed by a layup from Sikorski. The Bantams made another free throw with 21 seconds before Steevens Phelimond went to the other end to make a layup and keep the Golden Bears within four (70-66) with nine seconds remaining. Another layup for Western New England by Sikorski got them within two (70-68) with four seconds on the clock, but the Golden Bears were unable to convert on their final attempts while the Bantams made one last free throw to win the overtime game 71-68.

Inside the Numbers:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 45.5 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 37.5 percent at the foul line while earning 44 rebounds, 14 assists, eight steals, and one block.
• Geitner led the team with 16 points and garnered five rebounds and four assists while Harrison came off the bench to contribute 11 points.
• Flynn earned 10 points and nine rebounds on the night to lead the team in rebounds while Sikorski recorded nine points and seven rebounds.

Up Next:

The Golden Bears return to play after the Thanksgiving holiday when they open up conference play on the road at Curry College on Wednesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m.