TIU Men's Basketball fall in conference opener to Roosevelt
Greg Gorham
Box Score Box Score | Season Stats
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Freshman guard Thomas Amrine led Trinity International with 15 points, but a late run from Roosevelt put the game out of reach, as the Trojans fell in the CCAC opener, 85-75. Six players finished in double-figures, including all five starters.
The Lakers (6-0, 1-0 CCAC) took a quick 6-0 lead to start the game, but a pair of three-pointers from Amrine and Andy Stauffer tied the score at the 17:03 mark of the first half. Roosevelt reclaimed the lead, however, stretching their early advantage to as much as seven points with a layup from RU's Jeremiah Jackson with 7:08 in the first half. The Trojans (2-7, 0-1 CCAC) answered with a 7-0 run of their own, highlighted by a pair of scores from Nate Ball.
TIU kept things close throughout the rest of the first half, but the Lakers scored eight points in the last 1:25 of the first half to take a 32-24 lead at the break. Stauffer, Ball, and Justin Peeples led the team with five first-half points.
The Trojans chipped away at the narrow Laker lead at the start of the second half, getting the margin down to just one point three times, with a Blake Mann three-pointer at the 16:36 mark, a free throw from Mann on the following possession after an RU score, and a jumper from James Glass with 15:13 to play. TIU was unable to find the score to go in front however, as Roosevelt answered Glass' bucket with seven straight points to take a 49-41 lead with 14:31 to play.
Making one final run, TIU closed the gap to a single point at the 5:38 mark with a layup from Ball. The Lakers closed the door by outscoring the Trojans 21-12 down the stretch, including a 9-of-10 performance from the free throw line during the closing minutes.
Along with Amrine's 15 points, Sam Salem (13 pts.), Mann (12), Peeples (12), Stauffer (11), and Ball (10) all finished in double-figures. Stauffer led the Trojans in rebounding, pulling down eight boards on the night. Salem had a team-high five assists.
The Trojans continue their road trip on Saturday, when they take on Benedictine-Springfield, at 4:00 p.m.
