Glass scores 22 as Trojans earn come-from-behind win over Northland International
Greg Gorham
Box Score Box Score | LaQuinta Classic Tournament Page
DEERFIELD, Ill. -- The Trinity International Trojans had four players in double figures, as the team overcame a slow start to earn a 91-74 victory over Northland International (Wisc.), opening up the 2013-14 season at the LaQuinta Classic on Friday night.
Sophomore wing James Glass helped lead the second-half run, scoring 15 of his game-high 22 points after the break. Sophomore Sam Salem pitched in with 17 points in the second half, finishing with 19 points on the night. Justin Peeples (14 pts.) and Thomas Amrine (13) also reached double figures in the win.
The Trojans (1-0) shot just 28.6% (10-of-35) in the first half, while the Pioneers (0-1) started out hot, shooting at a 53.8% (14-of-26) clip from the field. A pair of free throws from NIU's Josh Conover at the 16:08 mark kick-started an 8-0 for the Pioneers, who took a 15-8 lead in the opening minutes of the game. TIU was unable to reclaim the lead throughout the first half, as Noah Potratz' trey at the 5:56 mark stretched his Pioneers' lead to double digits, going in front 34-24. Trinity International would climb back to within five, but the lead grew again and at the half ,Northland International held a 44-34 advantage.
The Pioneers were strong in the post, outscoring the Trojans 16-8 in points in the paint during the first half. For TIU, Justin Peeples had a team-leading eight points at the break.
TIU broke through and reclaimed the lead during a four-minute stretch early in the second half. After a Micah Baines jumper put the Pioneers ahead by ten once again, with 17:23 remaining, the Trojans went on a 14-3 run to go in front, highlighted by six points from James Glass, and four coming from Sam Salem, including a three-pointer early in the run. Now with a 56-55 advantage and 12:57 to play, the Trojans quickly built their lead and never looked back.
Back-to-back scores from Thomas Amrine and Glass put TIU ahead five, 62-57 just a few possessions after their comeback run. Following a Pioneer free throw, Salem hit another one of his three treys to put his team up by seven, 65-58. The Trojan lead stretched to double digits on Amrine's three-pointer at the 7:09 mark, 73-63, in the midst of an 8-0 run. Trinity's biggest lead of the night game on an and-1 layup from Salem, who knocked down the free throw to lead by 20, 89-69, with 2:21 to play.
TIU finished with a .426 shooting performance, going 29-of-68 on the night. They also won the rebounding battle, 43-34 over the Pioneers.
A pair of Trojans in Nate Ball and Salem finished with a team-leading four assists. Ball nearly posted a double-double himeself, pulling down 13 rebounds to go along with eight points. Eight of Ball's rebounds were on the offensive glass, which helped contribute to the team's 13 second-chance points.
The Trojans will now prepare for Saturday's matchup with Waldorf (Iowa), set to begin inside the Meyer Sports Complex at 6:00 p.m. The Warriors fell in their first game of the LaQuinta Classic, 73-65, to Clarke (Iowa).
