With about two seconds remaining in the first half, the Panthers turned over the ball near Trinity’s three-point line. The Bantams’ guard bolted forward with the ball, and as the buzzer pierced through Pepin Gymnasium, he launched a shot from the blue “M” at the center circle. With the buzzer still ringing, the ball swished through the Middlebury basket, and the Trinity bench erupted. In one continuous run, from turnover to shot to celebration, the Trinity guard raucously strode off the court and into the locker room.
The Middlebury men’s basketball team hosted their first NESCAC game of the season on Jan. 9, facing top-ranked Trinity College. The Bantams’ half-court shot saw Middlebury trail 45–27 heading into intermission, and although demoralizing, the shot did not fully reflect the state of the game at that point.
Middlebury and Trinity started off well-matched, battling hard and trading points for the first several minutes. What the game lacked in quality, however, was made up for in sheer hustle and aggression. Both teams spent substantial time on the ground fighting for possession.
Regardless, the Panthers still showed flashes of their talent in the opening stages of the game. Three-point shots from Edward Witherington ’26 got the Middlebury student section going, while the players’ physical strength in the paint served as a reminder that Trinity would have to work particularly hard to keep Middlebury’s scorers at bay.
Middlebury’s struggles began with an 18–8 Trinity scoring run that saw the Panthers quickly trail by 11 points. Repeated turnovers left the team scrambling back on defense — a substantial error facing any team, let alone against the nation’s first-ranked DIII squad — and undisciplined defense gave Trinity repeated chances at the free throw line. First year guard Donovan Lee ’29 scored from three to reduce the Panthers’ deficit with two minutes remaining, but the team was unable to score again before the end of the first half. Trinity recorded nine unanswered points to lead Middlebury by 18 entering the break.
The Panthers began the second half with better defensive organization and intensity, holding Trinity’s extended scoring runs at bay. The game was less frenzied, with fewer turnovers, less time spent wrestling for the ball, more fluid passing and disciplined play from both teams. Nonetheless, a 13–8 Trinity sequence saw the guests lead by 20 with one quarter remaining.
Sparked by a jumpshot from Ian Murray ’27, Middlebury began to chip away at Trinity’s advantage with their best scoring run of the game. The difference fell to 16 points, although Trinity promptly restored a 20-point lead. Throughout the second half, Trinity relied on their three-point shooters to undo any progress the Panthers made. As a team, Trinity made 40.9% of their three-point field goal attempts. In comparison, Middlebury only made 20%.
An 8-5 Middlebury scoring run temporarily restored the energy levels in Pepin, but it was too late for a comeback. Trinity won 79–62, leaving Middlebury 6-6 on the season after Friday’s game. For Trinity, the victory brought their undefeated streak to 13.
Murray led the Panthers’ scoring with 18 points, posting his eighth game in double-digits. Next was Witherington with 12 points, including two three-pointers from the first half. Notably, Middlebury faced the Bantams without standout first-year Dominick Ducree ’29 due to an injury. Ducree leads the Panthers in average points per game, having already notched four 20-point games this season. In Middlebury’s Dec. 28 game against Wheaton, Ducree scored six three-pointers on his way to 27 points total.
Facing the current number one-ranked team and reigning NCAA DIII basketball champion, a 17-point loss was a tough but acceptable result. Regardless of the rankings and hype, Middlebury approached the game with a focus on their own performance.
“The ranking and [Trinity’s] accomplishments over the last few years played no effect in our preparation…our improvement and our growth were the only things that truly mattered,” Head Coach Matthew Goldsmith said.
That focus seemed to pay off. Even without their top scorer, Middlebury scored 47.1% of their field goal shots, the highest sum of any opponent against Trinity this season. Further, despite the deficit at the break, Middlebury returned to the court with renewed effort and connection, outscoring their opponent in the second half.
Looking forward, the Middlebury men’s basketball team will need more defensive discipline and fewer turnovers; “continual growth and improvement,” as coach Goldsmith described. Ducree's return will also provide much-missed offensive strength. Having lost their subsequent match against Wesleyan University on Saturday, Jan. 10, the Panthers now sit at 0–2 against NESCAC opponents. Two additional NESCAC games await this weekend— two crucial chances, both away from home, for the team to decide what kind of season they want to have.
Simon Schmieder '26 (he/him) is a Senior Sports Editor.
Simon is an avid runner and biker and enjoys spending time outdoors. He is a philosophy and political science joint major with a minor in German, in addition to being a Philly sports fan.
