HARTFORD, Conn. – The Swarthmore College men's basketball team erased a 14-point deficit and evened the score with under five minutes to go, but the Garnet were unable to complete the comeback as they fell at No. 3 Trinity College (Conn.), 83-74, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday night.
The loss snapped Swarthmore's 10-game win streak and the Garnet end the year with a 21-9 record. It was the program's seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the sixth time in the last seven seasons it advanced to at least the second round, and the eighth season in a row with 20-plus victories.
The teams were tied at 20 midway through the first half before the Bantams went on a 17-5 run to take a 12-point lead. Trinity maintained the advantage into the second half and led by as many as 14 points. Swarthmore chipped away and finally evened it up at 69 with 4:50 to go after a 7-0 surge. However, the Bantams netted the next six points and held the Garnet to just five the rest of the way.
Vinny DeAngelo put in a heroic effort for Swarthmore in his final collegiate game, tying his career high with 33 points. The program's newly crowned scoring leader finished his prolific career with 1,743 points.
Cal Hanson scored in double figures with 14 points while
Michael Caprise tallied nine points and nine rebounds in his last collegiate contest. Caprise wraps up his tenure with 1,112 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet trailed 8-6 early on before taking the lead with seven straight points.
Nyle Coleman and
Eddie Paquette both hit a three and Paquette added a free throw. Trinity answered with 12 unanswered points to go in front, 20-13, with 10:00 left in the first half.
- Swarthmore battled back and netted seven in a row again to tie the score at 20. DeAngelo totaled four points and
Brady Kageyama drilled a three-pointer. However, the Bantams took over once more with a 17-5 stretch that gave them a 12-point advantage (37-25) with 4:09 on the clock. Trinity shot 6-of-7 during the run, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
- The Garnet had another 7-0 surge to cut the deficit to five (37-32) with 2:58 remaining. DeAngelo produced four more points and Hanson added three. The Bantams posted the next five points before DeAngelo ended the period with a layup to get Swarthmore within eight (42-34) at the break.
- Still leading by eight (47-39) early in the second half, Trinity sank back-to-back threes for its largest lead of the game (53-39) with 15:49 to play. The Garnet responded with eight in a row to close the gap to six (53-47) at the 14:15 mark. DeAngelo registered all eight points, including two three-pointers.
- The teams went back and forth for several minutes. Swarthmore trailed 67-59 with 7:15 on the clock. The Garnet then got back in it with a 10-2 run that tied the score at 69 with 4:50 left. Hanson led the way with five points, including a three,
Aidan Godfrey hit from beyond the arc, and DeAngelo converted a pair of free throws.
- The Bantams responded with six points but DeAngelo dropped in a three to cut the deficit in half and it was 75-72 with 2:34 remaining. Swarthmore had the chance to tie on its next possession but a three-pointer was off the mark and Trinity grabbed the rebound. After two Bantam free throws, the Garnet were unable to put pressure on the home team as they missed their next four field goal attempts. Trinity went 8-for-10 at the charity stripe over the final two minutes to close out the win.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: DeAngelo 33
Rebounds: Caprise 9
Assists: Caprise 5
Threes: DeAngelo, Hanson 3