DEERFIELD, Ill. - With a career-high 31 points, senior forward
Zach Kirschbaum helped guide Trinity International to their second win in two nights, taking an 88-77 decision over Waldorf (Iowa) on Saturday night in the final game of the 2016 Trojan Classic.
Box Score | Season Stats
Kirschbaum collected eight of his 31 over the final five minutes of what was a close game down the stretch. Leading at the five-minute mark, the Trojans (5-1) fell behind after a pair of Waldorf free throws, 71-70. Trinity responded with six straight, including the only three-pointer from Kirschbaum all night, to quickly claim a five-point lead they would hold the rest of the way.
"I think we showed a lot of toughness tonight, finishing the last five minutes against a quality team," said head coach
Boomer Roberts after his team's fifth straight win. "It was good for us to be in a tight game, because our league play is going to be very similar. Zach bounced back with a huge game against some very good big men, and Henry [French] set the tone early defensively."
Trinity started the night with French scoring the first six points of the game, and eventually going up by as much as 15-2 following Donald Watkins' jumper at the 14:12 mark. Watkins' score would mark the largest lead of the first half for the Trojans, as Waldorf pulled to within two points with a minute left to play before the halftime break.
Will Davidson and
Grant Corsi would each score a quick layup to expand the TIU advantage to 39-33 at the half.
Continuing to pull away, Trinity would go up by a 63-47 margin midway through the second half. Waldorf would respond, going on a 14-0 run over nearly three minutes and closing the gap to 65-63 with 6:27 to play.
June Prowell's free throws at the 4:32 mark gave the Warriors their first lead of the night, but the Trojans would quickly move back in front on
Luke Mead's layup-and-foul, followed by a steal on the other end from Corsi and a three-pointer from Kirschbaum. In front by five with two and a half minutes to play, the Trojan defense allowed just two field goals to the Warriors the rest of the way to secure the win.
"I thought Jeremy [Carlyle] and Luke made some clutch plays down the stretch, and we buckled down defensively late to win the game," said Roberts. "Waldorf has some really talented pieces, and made some great plays that got us on our heels, but the guys kept plugging, and we earned a great win."
The Trojans now prepare for the start of CCAC play next week, as Trinity hits the road for a Wednesday night matchup at St. Xavier. Tipoff against the No. 22 Cougars is set for November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
