HARTFORD (Interstat) — Jared Berry scored 24 points and Trinity (Conn.) rode a dominant first half to a 107-44 victory over Massachusetts Liberal Arts in a men’s NCAA Division III basketball game Tuesday at Ferris Athletic Center. The Bantams improved to 1-0, while the visiting Trailblazers fell to 0-3 before an announced attendance of 109. Massachusetts Liberal Arts was coming off losses to SUNY Delhi and Rochester Tech. Trinity, playing its season opener, next travels to Eastern Connecticut State, while the Trailblazers host Wentworth in their next outing.

Trinity controlled the paint and the glass. The Bantams shot 35 of 64 from the floor, made 7 of 19 3-point attempts and converted 30 of 41 free throws. They pulled down 20 offensive rebounds, blocked 16 shots and finished with 13 assists. Massachusetts Liberal Arts shot 15 of 62 overall, 3 of 23 from beyond the arc and 11 of 18 at the line. The Trailblazers had eight offensive rebounds, three assists, two blocks and 19 turnovers. Trinity committed 15 turnovers and scored 54 second-half points, while Massachusetts Liberal Arts scored 27 after halftime.

The most important stretch came late in the first half. Massachusetts Liberal Arts had trimmed the margin to 44-27 on Frank Field’s 3-pointer with 2:57 left before halftime. Trinity answered with 10 unanswered points to close the half, getting a 3-pointer from Justin Brown, driving layups from Kobe Closeil, free throws from Samuel Norris and Berry. The Bantams led 53-17 at halftime and opened the second half with a Samuel Norris layup and later a Berry layup to remove any doubt.

Berry, a guard from Danvers, Mass., added seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Tristan Davis, a 6-foot-6 forward, finished with eight points, 11 rebounds and six blocks for Trinity. Closeil scored 16 points, Alexander Echevarria had 11 points and five rebounds, Jadon Holmes scored 10, John Spinoso added nine points, six rebounds and three assists, and Samuel Norris contributed nine points and five rebounds. Justin Brown had six points and three assists, and Nate Freisthler added three points, three rebounds and two assists. Frank Field led Massachusetts Liberal Arts with eight points, three rebounds and three assists.

Trinity’s advantage showed in several areas. The Bantams scored 52 points in the paint, 25 points off turnovers and 21 fastbreak points. Massachusetts Liberal Arts managed 16 points in the paint, eight points off turnovers and eight fastbreak points. Trinity also held a 20-8 edge in offensive rebounds and a 16-2 advantage in blocked shots. The Bantams committed 17 fouls, while the Trailblazers were whistled for 29.

Massachusetts Liberal Arts stayed close only briefly. Field made a jump shot on the opening possession, and Angel Lara added a layup to give the Trailblazers an early 4-2 lead. Berry tied the game with a dunk, and Trinity soon moved in front for good. Closeil’s three-point play at 15:40 pushed Trinity ahead 13-6. Field’s pullup and a 3-pointer from Ethan McInerny kept the Trailblazers within range early, but Trinity’s depth and size took over. In the second half, Echevarria’s layup and 3-pointer, Brown’s second 3-pointer and Treyton Jones’ 3-pointer helped Trinity extend the margin. Massachusetts Liberal Arts got late baskets from Brad Saint Louis and Julius Ellis, but Trinity closed the game with a Weston Reardon layup.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Trinity (Conn.) 80, Massachusetts Liberal Arts 79, and Interstat’s ELO system had projected Trinity (Conn.) with a 99.8 percent probability to win. Trinity’s first-half lead stood at 36 points, and the Bantams controlled play throughout the game.