MBSK12-3

ESU-Southern Conn. Men's Basketball

East Stroudsburg, Pa. - Guard T.J. Trimboli scored 22 points and forward David

Grenade added 17 as Southern Connecticut downed East Stroudsburg University, 79-56, in the first round of the 35^th Rotary Pocono Classic Friday night.

The Owls will take on defending champion Pitt-Johnstown for the championship tonight at 7:30 p.m. ESU will meet Shippensburg in a consolation game at 5:30. Pitt-Johnstown beat Shippensburg, 82-70, in the other first-round game.

Trimboli scored eight points in the first four minutes, including a pair of three-pointers, as Southern took a 13-8 lead. They upped the margin to 19 points at 42-23 by halftime.

ESU closed within ten points, 50-40, with 10:35 remaining, but the Owls went on a 15-5 run with Grenade climaxing the rally with a thundering dunk off the baseline to soar ahead, 65-45, with 6:31 to go.

Shadad Abdur-Rahkman led the Warriors with 16 points, hitting six of 13 shots from the floor and four of seven free throws. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Juwan Justice added 12 points while Quincy Henderson was the game's top rebounder with nine.

Southern Conn. 79

Van Norden 1-4 2-2 4, T.J. Trimboli 9-14 0-0 22, B. Trimboli 1-4 2-3 5, Little

0. 0-0 0, Grenade 6-11 4-7 17, Moore 1-1 0-0 2, McPherson 3-3 4-5 10, Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Platt 1-1 0-0 2, Kos 6-7 0-0 12, Morton 2-5 1-2 5, Miljanic 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 30-52 13-19 79

ESU 56

Rouse 0-1 0-0 0, Rahkman 6-13 4-7 16, Travis 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 2-8 1-1 5,

Alden 0-1 0-0 0, Justice 3-12 4-4 12, Kostic 2-7 0-0 5, Capita 1-6 1-2 4, Miskar 2-4 2-3

6, Henderson 4-9, 0-0 8, Lynch 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-62 12-17 56

Three-Point Goals: SC - T.J. Trimboli 4, Bobby Trimboli, Grenade; ESU -

Justice 2, Capita, Kostic

Halftime: Southern Conn., 42-23