HARTFORD, Conn. – The Manhattanville College men's basketball team was limited to 37.3 percent shooting from the field and struggled with turnovers as the Valiants fell to Eastern Connecticut State University by a 70-56 score in the first round of the Trinity (Conn.) College Holiday Invitational on Friday night at Ray Oosting Gymnasium.
 
Manhattanville (3-7) will take on Saint Joseph's (L.I.) College in the consolation game tomorrow at noon, while Eastern Connecticut State (6-5) advances to the title game tomorrow against host Trinity.
 
Sophomore Willie Britton (Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) led the Valiants in scoring with 13 points in 22 minutes off the bench, while senior Charles Nardone (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) chipped in 10 points and five rebounds. Freshman Dwayne Frazier (Miami, Fla./The Sagemont School) also hauled in a game-high 15 rebounds, the most by a Valiant this season and the highest total by a Valiant freshman in at least 10 years.
 
Hugh Lindo netted a game-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and added a team-best 11 boards, five steals and four assists to lead Eastern Connecticut State.
 
ECSU outscored Manhattanville 17-7 over the first 6:32 to open up an early advantage, and the Warriors never allowed the Valiants to get into an offensive rhythm for most of the night. Eastern Connecticut was incredibly opportunistic in taking advantage of Valiant turnovers in the first half, converting eight miscues into 14 points and adding a 14-2 edge in second-chance points to grab a 39-29 lead at the half.
 
Manhattanville scored six of the first eight points in the second half to lower the deficit to six at 41-35 with 17:09 remaining, but the Warriors went on a game-clinching 12-0 run over the next 8:27 to bump the lead back to 18 with less than nine minutes left.
 
The Valiants struggled offensively all game long, finishing at 37.3 percent (22 of 59) from the field and also turning the ball over 23 times. The Warriors ended the evening shooting 44.6 percent (25 of 56) from the field and 46.7 percent (7 of 15) from beyond the arc.