By Mike Setzler / Sports Information Staff

DANBURY, Conn. -- The Eastern Connecticut State University men's basketball team improved its overall record to 14-4 and its Little East Conference record to 8-0 Tuesday night at Feldman Arena with an 84-72 win over Western Connecticut State University. 

At right: Trachone Preston sheds two Western defenders in the second half of Tuesday's Little East win at Feldman Arena.

Junior forward Brandon Yarborough (Stamford) was unable to travel with the team due to a choral concert, giving freshman Hugh Lindo (Enfield) the opportunity to move into the starting lineup, Lindo did not disappoint, stepping up big for the Warriors in his fifth start with a game and career-high 17 rebounds to go along with six points, three assists and a blocked shot. The 6-foot- 4 inch Lindo alone had seven offensive rebounds, one fewer than Western's entire team. 

The performance was highlighted with a play that Warrior fans are becoming accustomed  from the freshman sensation Lindo: a drive down the lane mid-second half leading to an emphatic one handed throw-down while being fouled.  After the play, former 1,000 point scorer, first-team LEC performer Chris Robitaille stated, "He's probably the most athletic kid ever to play here at Eastern."  Extremely high praise from last year's Eastern Male Athlete-of-the-Year and All-ECAC selection.

Senior tri-captain Mike Garrow (Terryville) recorded his sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds, improving his resume for LEC Player-of-the-Year.  Fellow senior tri-captain Brian Salzillo (North Haven) struggled through the first half (going 0-for-4 from the field with four turnovers), but  the second half was another story for Salzillo, who went 6-for-14 from the field for 16 points and sank four three-point field goals. It was evident that it is simply impossible to hold the conference's leading scorer in check for 40 minutes. 

Sophomore point guard Trachone Preston (Enfield) also played a major role in the victory.  Preston had a game-high 21 points and six assists while shooting 75 percent from the floor for the game. 

Eastern shot a remarkable 51.7 percent from the field, including 55.6 percent from the three-point line, while holding the Colonials to 42.2 percent from the field, including a mere 28.6 percent from 'three'. 

Eastern looks forward to Saturday when it hosts Plymouth State University, looking to sweep the LEC regular-season series. In the first go-round Jan. 4 at Plymouth, Eastern stopped the Panthers on 14 first-half points and eased to a 61-49 victory.