HARTFORD, Conn. – The Regis College men's basketball team stayed competitive with nationally ranked Babson College for a while, but the Beavers eventually pulled away for an 84-59 victory over the Pride Tuesday afternoon in the consolation game of the Trinity Holiday Invitational hosted by the Bantams at Oosting Gym.
Marc Trinidad (Bronx, N.Y.) shot 9-of-17 from the field as he tied his career high with 21 points, plus he pulled down six rebounds as he earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. However, Trinidad was the only Regis player to reach double figures in scoring, as Dimitri Rosa (Tiverton, R.I.) hit two three-pointers on his way to an eight-point performance and Gibou Njie (Miramar, Fla.) added seven points, two rebounds, and two assists off the bench.
Trinidad scored Regis' first six points of the game as the Pride took a quick 6-5 lead, but Babson gained control with 12 unanswered points over a three-minute span, including eight straight points from Andrew Jaworski.
A three-pointer from Rosa and two free throws by Josh Germain (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) allowed the Pride to close to within seven at 20-13, but the Beavers rattled off a 9-0 scoring run, capped by a three-pointer from James Welch, to extend their lead to 31-15 with nine minutes left in the first half.
Regis scored seven straight points over the next two minutes, punctuated by a traditional three-point play from Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The teams then traded baskets the rest of the half, with Welch hitting a three-pointer in the final minute to give the Beavers a 43-30 halftime lead.
Down 48-32 early in the second half, the Pride made another run, scoring seven straight points, featuring a basket and subsequent steal by Cam Wilkins (Taunton, Mass.) leading to a Rosa layup. However, Babson increased its lead back to double figures for good on consecutive three-pointers by Jack Coolahan and Matt Pattyson.
Babson (10-1), ranked 12th in the most recent D3Hoops.com Top 25 Poll, was led by a career-high performance from Colin Bradanese, who shot 11-of-14 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line for 27 points. Jaworski finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals, and Welch added 10 points and four rebounds off the bench.
The Beavers shot 61.1 percent (33-of-54) from the field, including 9-of-18 from behind the three-point line, and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the free throw line. Babson dished out 19 assists while committing only 10 turnovers, plus it scored 16 points off 16 Regis turnovers.
As a team, the Pride shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the field, including 3-of-14 from behind the three-point line, and 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the free throw line.
Regis (1-8) starts 2020 by hosting the Catholic Colleges Classic Thursday and Friday, Jan. 2-3, at Higgins Court. The Pride will play non-conference games against Rivier Thursday at 3 p.m. and Emmanuel Friday at 3 p.m., with Saint Joseph's College also participating in the tournament.