Hartford, CT – Men's Basketball bounced back with a 71-59 win against FDU-Florham in day two of the Trinity College Invitational on December 31^st, 2023.  
 
Thomas College: Overall (5-7), NAC (2-1)
FDU-Florham: Overall (3-8), MAC Freedom (0-0)
 
How it Happened:

• This game started as a back-and-forth contest, with both teams trading points until it was 6-6 five minutes in.
• The Terriers then went on a 10-2 run over the next five minutes, taking a 16-8 lead thanks to two three-point shots by Cooper Wirkala.
• With just under nine minutes to go in the first half, James Phelan would score four straight points to extend the lead. 
• The Terriers closed out the first half with a 23-9 run, taking a 39-21 lead into the final 20 minutes.
• The beginning of the second half mirrored the first half, with the Terriers largely in control.
• Phelan would score seven straight points to extend the lead to 22 points five minutes into the second half.
• However, FDU-Florham would go on a 17-4 run to make things interesting, reducing the Terrier lead to only six points.
• Mark McDonald, Jackson Ruelke, and Phelan would all hit two free-throws in the remaining time to ensure the win for the Terriers.
• The final score was 71-59 in what was a largely dominant performance from the Terriers.

Inside the Stats:

• The Terriers had 19 points off of turnovers to help the winning cause.
• Phelan led all scorers with 23 points, adding six assists, three steals, three rebounds, while shooting 86% (12-14) from the free-throw line.
• Wirkala ended the game with 22 points, adding five rebounds.

What's Next:

• Men's Basketball will look to continue their success at home against the University of Maine at Fort Kent on January 7^th, 2024. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.