NEW LONDON, Conn. – Freshman Dan Draffan (Hamden, Conn.) contributed 21 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough, as the Connecticut College men's basketball team fell to Eastern Connecticut State by an 89-77 decision at the Charles B. Luce Field House on Tuesday evening.

The first half was a seesaw battle which featured four ties and eight lead changes between the teams. Connecticut College led for most of the first half and went ahead by a 10-5 score on a pair of free throws converted by senior Isaiah Robinson (Lynn, Mass.) as well as a 15-8 margin at the 15:58 mark on a Draffan jumper. The Warriors, however, hung around and started to gain momentum when Carlos Gonzalez converted a layup to put the visitors up, 29-24, with 6:32 remaining in the half. The Camels regained the lead when Draffan completed a three-point play the old-fashioned way, but the visitors took it back on a Tarchee Brown bucket and led 43-37 at the recess.

Eastern Connecticut State (3-0) rode the wave of momentum it started gaining at the end of the opening frame into the second and never trailed the rest of the way. Kendall Marquez sank a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a double-digit lead at 54-43, and Cory Muckle blew the margin up to a game-high 24 points when he fired home from downtown to make it 71-47 at the midway point of the half.

The Camels, however, stormed back and made it a game again by embarking on a 14-1 run over the next four minutes. Junior David Labossiere (Stoneham, Mass.) led the charge by scoring 11 straight points during the hot streak, but the earlier deficit was just too much to overcome. Even though the hosts slashed the margin down to eight on a trifecta by sophomore Jason Bird (Raynham, Mass.) which made it 84-76, the Warriors made five free throws down the stretch to remain undefeated this season.

"I am pleased that our team didn't quit when Eastern Connecticut State built up a big lead," said head coach Tom Satran. "We know we have to play better on both sides of the ball, and we can and will as we start to get more familiar and comfortable with one another."

Brown paced Eastern Connecticut State by leading four Warriors in twin figures with a game-high 26 points. Gonzalez recorded 17 points along with four steals, while Muckle netted 15 points and dished out three assists.

The Camels were led by Draffan's career-high 21-points. The freshman most notably shot 9-of-12 from the field, including 1-of-1 from long range, and 2-of-2 at the line. Labossiere contributed 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting despite being limited to 18 minutes of action, and Bird netted 11 points and was one of four Camel players to record a steal.

Connecticut College (2-1) will play its third straight home game when it hosts Roger Williams on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 3:00 p.m.