UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. - Jalen Miller would get a look at a potential game-winner for Governors State, but the shot at the buzzer was off the mark as Trinity International held on for their sixth straight victory, 81-80 over the Jaguars on Saturday afternoon.

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In a game that saw three lead changes in the final minute, sophomore guard Jeremy Carlyle hit two clutch free throws with 3.4 seconds left to play to put the Trojans (12-3, 5-1 CCAC) ahead for the final time. Senior Luke Mead's three-pointer with 52 seconds remaining gave Trinity a 79-78 advantage, but GSU's Jamaal Murray put the home team in front for a moment in the closing seconds before Carlyle's trip to the free throw line.

"Good programs find ways to win on the road, especially in conference play," commented TIU head coach Boomer Roberts after the win. "We were not great tonight, but we got enough stops and stuck free throws, which are what you need to win against a talented team in a really tough place to play."

The Trojans had to battle back from a sluggish first half in which Governors State would lead by as much as 12 points in the final minute before the halftime break. A bucket from Zach Kirschbaum followed by another three from Mead would cut the deficit to 45-38 at the close of the half.

The turning point in the game for Trinity came early in the second half, with a layup from T.J. Johnson at the 19:23 mark kick-starting a 17-0 run for the Trojans. The rally flipped an eight-point deficit into a nine-point advantage in six minutes of play, when a pair of Kirschbaum free throws gave TIU a 55-46 edge. "Johnson changed the game in the second half with his effort and energy on the glass," said Roberts. "It's easy to take Zach for granted, and then you look at the stat sheet and he has another double-double and five more blocks. He's been a rock for us."

Kirschbaum finished the night with a game-high 19 points and 15 rebounds, earning his 13th double-double of the year, and his 10th in as many games. Mead finished with 18 points off the bench, going 5-for-9 from the field and 3-for-5 from long range.

Trinity would lead by as much as 14 with seven minutes to play, when Governors State would rally back into the game. A 13-2 run including back-to-back three-pointers with 3:06 to play would close the gap to 75-72. Ninety seconds later Dalvin Echols put the Jaguars back in front with a jumper, 77-76 with 1:32 remaining, before the Trojans' final push to secure the win.

The Trojans return to Van Dixhorn Arena one final time in 2016 next week, when they host Holy Cross in a Tuesday afternoon matchup, beginning at 2:00 p.m.