Springfield, Mass. - November 21, 2015 - The Springfield College men's basketball team used a dominating first half performance to knock off 12th-ranked Trinity College, 80-69, and give head coach Charlie Brock his 500th career coaching victory.

Springfield evened its record to 2-2 on the season with the victory, while the Bantams, who reached the NCAA Division III Elite Eight last season and were ranked 12th in the D3Hoops.com Preseason National Poll, dropped to 0-1.

Brock, in the midst of his 36th-year coaching college basketball, including 18 seasons on the Springfield sidelines, becomes the 44th coach in the history of NCAA Division III men's basketball to reach the 500 career win milestone.

Josh Altman (Rockport, Mass.) led all scorers with 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Josh Downes (East Sandwich, Mass.) chipped in 16 points for the Pride.  Andy McNulty (West Springfield, Mass.) added 14 points, and Larry Piretra (Oakland, N.J.) was credited with nine points and eight caroms.

Springfield spent most of the game from the free throw line, going 36-for-48 as the Bantams were whistled for 36 fouls in the contest.  Altman was 9-for-9 from the charity stripe, while both Downes and McNulty made eight freebies.  The Pride shot 39.2% from the floor (20-for-51), including a sizzling 14-for-25 (56%) in the opening 20 minutes of action.

Trinity's Ed Ogundeko and Shay Ajayi each totaled double doubles in the loss, with Ajayi going for 14 points and 12 boards and Ogundeko notching 14 points and 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. The Bantams finished the game shooting 37.1% (23-for-62), bolstered by a a 14-for-33 (42.4%) showing in the second half.  Trinity owned a 44-38 edge on the glass and received 25 points from its bench.

Springfield opened up the game incredibly efficient on the offensive side of the ball to take a 14-2 lead just 4:33 into the contest after an inside bucket from Downes.  The Pride continued to control the game, leading by as much as 28 after a Piretra free throw with 2:32 on the clock, and went into the half with a 49-25 advantage.  The hosts made the most of 18 Trinity fouls as they connected on 18-for-24 from the free throw line.

Trinity slowly chipped away at Springfield's lead, climbing within 70-57 following two free throws from Jaquann Starks with 4:30 on the clock.  Piretra would give the Pride some breathing room with a huge three from the top of the arc, only to have the visitors benefit from another Starks triple from the corner made it seven-point contest at the 1:18 mark.  However, Springfield knocked down all six of its free throw attempts in the final minute to hold on for the 11-point win over the nationally-ranked Bantams.

Springfield will play its final game before Thanksgiving break when it hosts Keene State on Tuesday at 6:30 pm.