By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant AJ Schultz '27

ANGOLA, Indiana – The Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball team dropped a non-conference matchup to Trine (Ind.) University by a final score of 76-70 inside the MTI Center. 

BW (1-2) Leaders

• Freshman forward AJ Pestello (Cuyahoga Falls/Stow-Munroe Falls) totaled 19 points and nine rebounds
• Senior Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference guard Luke Driscoll (Carmel, Calif./Stevenson School) had a statline of 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block 
• Sophomore guard Ray Ellington (Westlake) led the game in scoring with 27 points while adding six rebounds and shot a proficient 10-18 from the field 

Trine (4-0) Leaders

• Cortez Garland led the Thunder with 26 points, while also recording four assists and three steals
• Fred Garland recorded 17 points, three rebounds and three assists.
• Emmanuel Megnanglo was all over the place defensively as he added ten rebounds, two steals, and two blocks

First Half (Trine, 43-35)

• Trine got the scoring started with a three-point basket
• BW responded ferociously with a 10-0 run, taking the lead 10-3.
• At the 1:53 mark, Trine took a ten-point lead - it's largest of the game at any point
• Both teams battled to the end of the half, with the Thunder leading a 43-35
• Ellington and Pestello led BW in scoring with 10 points each
• Freshman guard Caden Hudak (Medina/Buckeye) made his collegiate debut grabbing one rebound

Second Half (Trine, 76-70)

• The Yellow Jackets battled back to take a 51-48 lead thanks to a few three pointers from Ellington and sophomore guard Brayden Hamilton (Brunswick)
• BW took one of their biggest leads of the game making it 62-56 with 8:32 left to play
• The Thunder stormed back, however, and went on a 20-8 run to end the game
• Ellington led the Yellow Jackets with 17 of his 27 points
• Sophomore guard Myles Reynolds (Cleveland/St. Edward) grabbed five of his career-best eight rebounds

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, November 21 when they host a non-conference game against Penn State Behrend in the second game of the men's and women's doubleheader in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center with tipoff at 7 p.m.