Trojans earn double-overtime victory over Trinity Christian
Greg Gorham
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DEERFIELD, Ill. -- It took ten minutes longer than expected, but the Trinity International Trojans picked up their first conference win of the season, in a 104-98 thriller over the Trinity Christian Trolls, Saturday night at the Meyer Sports Complex. Both teams hit dramatic, game-tying three-pointers in the waning seconds to force the pair of extra sessions before TIU closed out the win.
Trinity International (3-10, 1-3 CCAC) held a solid ten-point advantage at the end of the first half, thanks in part to Thomas Amrine's 11 first-haf points, while junior Nate Ball nearly had his eighth double-double of the year before intermission, with nine points and seven boards before the break.
The Trojans held a 41-31 halftime lead, as the Trolls (3-9, 1-2 CCAC) closed the gap in the opening minutes of the second half. TCC would pull within six points at the 16:20 mark, with a pair of free throws from Joe Hehir, who led the Trolls with 20 points on the night. TIU would stretch their lead back to ten by drawing a pair of fouls and knocking down the free throws, but a 9-2 TCC run made it a one-possession game with 13:12 to play.
Never quite giving up the lead in regulation, Trinity International saw their advantage cut to a single point after Hehir completed a three-point play at the 3:39 mark, making it a 69-68 game. Amrine answered with one of his six three-pointers on the night, to put the Trojans ahead 72-68. After TCC knocked down a pair of free throws, The Trojans went 1-for-2 at the line, attempting to ice the game, before Hehir hit a corner trey with just three seconds on the clock to tie the game 73-73.
Trinity Christian grabbed their first lead of the night on their opening possession of overtime, knocking down a three to earn a 76-73 advantage. Amrine answered with a trey of his own to tie the game, followed by an old-fashioned three-point play for the Trolls, making it 79-76 with 3:46 still to play.
The Trolls held a four-point lead after a Jake VenDenBerg layup and 1:36 remaining on the clock. Ball cut the lead to two on the following possession, before VanDenBerg went 1-for-2 at the line after the intentional foul. With ten seconds remaining, Amrine did it again, hitting the three in the right corner to tie the game up once again, this time at 86-86.
After trailing throughout much of the first overtime period, the Trojans took control of the second. Ball scored the opening bucket of the extra session to put his team ahead for good. The Trolls would make it a one-point game with 3:02 to play, before Justin Peeples and Sam Salem scored on back-to-back possessions to put TIU ahead by five, 95-90. Andy Stauffer hit a pair of free throws after another defensive stop, stretching the lead out to seven points with 1:10 on the clock. Trinity Christian would look to foul and get back into the game, but the Trojans would shoot 7-of-10 from the free throw line in the final minute to play to earn the 104-98 win.
Ball set a new career high with 24 points in the win, and matched his career-best 17 rebounds on the night. Salem also matched his career high with 19 points in the win. Also setting a new career-best was the freshman Amrine, with 21.
The Trojans will now prepare for their next game, on Saturday, December 14, when they host the Judson Eagles. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
