DEERFIELD, Ill. - Despite trailing for nearly 35 minutes throughout Tuesday afternoon's game, Trinity International pulled out the 78-77 victory over the Holy Cross Saints, remaining unbeaten inside Van Dixhorn Arena thanks to Jeremy Carlyle's buzzer-beating three-pointer.

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The Trojans (13-3, 6-1 CCAC) took a small early lead, but three straight three-pointers from Holy Cross would put the visitors in front 14-9 at the 13:57 mark. The Saints (8-8, 4-4 CCAC) would stay in front the rest of the way, until Carlyle's game-winner at the buzzer.

"Today was a grind," said TIU head coach Boomer Roberts after his team's seventh straight victory. "But our guys just kept battling and believing. Credit Coach McBride and Holy Cross, because a lot of the reason we were struggling was dictated by the way they played."

Holy Cross would lead by nine going into the halftime break, 39-30, thanks in part to eight made three-pointers, from six different shooters. Henry French led Trinity with seven first-half points, but as a team the Trojans would shoot just 32.1% (9-28) in the first half.

The Saints took their largest lead of the day after opening the second half with five quick points to go up 44-30 in less than a minute of play. Trinity would slowly cut into the deficit, but a three-pointer by HCC's Ryan Lutz with 3:00 left on the clock gave the Saints a nine-point edge, 72-63. Four quick points on a pair of Zach Kirschbaum free throws and a Luke Mead layup brought the Trojans to within five, and on the next possession Mead would hit a three, making it a one-possession score for the first time in the second half, 73-70.

As Holy Cross went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute, Trinity was kept from taking the lead, but Carlyle's layup with 3.2 seconds remaining brought the home team to within two, 77-75. A critical turnover on the in-bounds play gave the Trojans the ball back, setting up for the sophomore's game-winner.

"Our seniors made big plays late, and Jeremy Carlyle is a gamer," added Roberts. "He continues to hit big shots in big moments. We're ready for a break, but we're hopeful our best basketball is ahead of us."

Mead and Carlyle finished with a team-high 16 points on the night, while Grant Corsi finished in double figures with 11. Kirschbaum earned his 11th straight double-double, recording 10 points and 11 boards in the win.

The Trojans are off for the next 14 days, before kicking off the New Year with a matchup against the St. Ambrose Bees. Tipoff from Van Dixhorn Arena is set for Tuesday, January 3, at 7:30 p.m.