FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- With two chances to score a game-tying three-pointer, the Trinity International Trojans came up just short of sweeping the two-game exhibition set over the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, falling Saturday afternoon, 70-67.
Josh Markum's three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining pulled the Trojans to within a single possession, but despite a Nanook turnover and missed free throws, TIU were unable to find the tying score.
Senior guard
Justin Peeples finished with a team-high 13 points, going 6-for-15 from the field, along with two assists and four steals.
The Trojans held their biggest lead of the night in the opening minutes, jumping out to a 12-4 lead on a jumper from
James Glass at the 14:54 mark. Trinity would lead for the first 15 minutes of play, until a 10-0 run for the Nanooks spanning over five minutes turned a 20-15 TIU lead into a 25-20 UAF advantage. The Nanooks would finish the half by outscoring the Trojans 19-4, taking a ten point lead into the halftime break.
Trinity would hang around in the second half, and eventually tie the score thanks to a
Joshua Ajayi three-pointer, followed by a
Sean Smith bucket to make it a 50-50 game with 8:50 to play. After a UAF turnover,
Thomas Amrine would knock down the three to give the Trojans the lead.
The Nanooks responded quickly, however, scoring the next seven points to move back in front, with all seven points from Almir Hadzisehovic. Alaska would hold onto their lead over the final 6:39 to close out the win.
"We played hard enough to win, especially in the second half," TIU head coach Boomer Roberts said after the game. "We need to learn to finish. We are still a work in progress, but to win one game up here and have a good shot to win the second shows our team is improving."
"We have another difficult week ahead, with a very good Roosevelt team coming to our place. We need to be ready to compete for 40 minutes." The Trojans begin CCAC play this Wednesday, November 19; tipoff against the Lakers is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., inside the Van Dixhorn Arena.
