ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Trachone Preston scored a game-high 23 points to lead three men in double figures as Eastern Connecticut State defeated York College of New York, 70-60, in the championship game of the UR/Holiday Inn Airport Thanksgiving Invitational on Sunday afternoon.

Kevin Leumene scored 14 points, added two blocked shots, three steals, two assists, and three rebounds for the Warriors (7-1). Tarchee Brown scored 11 points. Hugh Lindo had nine points and 11 rebounds.

Omar St. John scored 13 points for York (3-2). Ryan St. John scored 12 points while Du'Quan Lawson and Jaron Williams had 11 points each. Williams grabbed 11 rbeounds and made four steals for the Cardinals.

The Most Valuable Player was ECSU's Brown. He scored 26 points in an opening round 66-61 victory over Stevenson University. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by Preston, Omar St. John and Lawson of York, Christian Roberts of Stevenson, and Sam Borst-Smith of Rochester. Stevenson won the third place game, 83-75, over Rochester.

Preston sank a three-pointer from the top of the key to ignite a 14-2 run over the last seven minutes of the first half for ECSU. He scored five of the 14 points. Leumene added a pair of layups as the Warriors took a 31-20 lead into the locker room.

Lawson and Cyril Reid got York going in the second half. With the Cardinals down 10 (36-26), Reid made a scoop shot, then Lawson hit a three-pointer from the left corner and Reid sank one from the right corner. A free throw by Lawson got York within 38-35 with five minutes gone.

Two baskets by Preston stretched the lead back to nine, 44-35, before York made another run. Lawson hit a runner in the lane, Ryan St. John hit a 12 footer off the left baseline, then hit a trey from left win on the break. After Preston drove for a layup, St. John sank a trey from the right corner, cutting the deficit to 46-45, with 9:15 left.

York hit a six-minute dry spell, scoring four points in that time, all from the foul line. ECSU stretched the edge to nine again, 60-51, with Lindo contributing four points, Brandon Yarborough driving on the break, and Preston hitting another trey.

Story courtesy Rochester Sports Information