NEW LONDON, Conn. – In its final non-conference match-up of the season, the Connecticut College men's basketball team used a strong second half to secure a 71-59 victory over UMass Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon at Luce Field House.

The Camels shot 54 percent in the second half while outscoring the Corsairs 37-29. Elias Espinosa (Leonia, N.J.) netted 14 of his game-high 22 points after the break and shot 6-for-10 from long range. David Murray (Jackson Heights, N.Y.) added 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Cam Schainfeld (Newton, Mass.) tacked on 10 points and five assists.

The first half, which featured seven ties and six lead changes, was played in a tight window that saw neither team lead by more than six. Trailing 29-26 late in the stanza, Conn used a 10-1 run to close the stanza and never trailed again. Espinosa buried a pair of threes during the spurt, which left the hosts with a 34-30 lead at intermission. 

Jackson Zancan, who led the Corsairs with 12 points in the first half, scored on back-to-back possessions to tie the score at 34-34 in the opening minute of the second. Over the next few minutes the teams traded blows—with Espinosa knocking down another three, and Murray finishing off a three-point play—and a jumper by Josh Lopes tied the game at 40-40 with 15:30 remaining.

Conn fired back with seven straight points to grab the lead for good. The Camels scored on three straight possessions, with Jarron Flynn (Roslindale, Mass.) and Schainfeld contributing layups and Billy Whelan (Hamilton, Mass.) draining a three.

Later in the half, the Camels finally gained some separation behind an 11-0 stretch that included seven straight points from Murray. A jumper by Espinosa capped the run and left Conn with a 66-51 lead with 2:02 to go. UMass Dartmouth went nearly eight minutes without a point as the Camels clamped down on the defensive end.

Conn shot 50 percent for the game and went 9-for-20 from downtown. The Camels, who wrapped up the non-conference slate with a 10-4 mark, also improved to 5-0 on the season in games following a loss. 

Zancan finished with 19 points to pace the Corsairs, who dropped to 9-8 overall on the year. Lopes added 15 points and eight rebounds.

Conn (13-5 overall) will next host Bowdoin College on Friday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.