WINONA LAKE, Ind. – A five point lead with just over seven minutes remaining slipped away Thursday night, as the No. 6 seed Trinity International Trojans fell in the semifinal round of the NCCAA Men's Basketball National Championship to 2nd-seeded Southwestern Christian (Okla.), 77-72.

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Senior guard Thomas Amrine led the Trojans (20-13) with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, all from three-point range. The Ramstein, Germany native became the 19th player in Trinity International history to reach the 1,000-point mark in the game, and surpassed Paul Johnson (1967-71) for 18th on TIU's all-time scoring list.

"We fought really hard tonight, and our guys gave everything they had," said TIU head coach Boomer Roberts after the game. "SCU made a few more plays later in the game, but it wasn't for lack of effort. If we hit one or two of our open jumpers in the second half, we probably win the game, but that's how the ball bounces sometimes."

The Trojans led by as much as ten points in the first half, in a game that saw 12 lead changes throughout. Southwestern Christian (19-14) edged out in front to start, before the first of Luke Mead's career-high five field goals put TIU in front 7-6 at the 15:15 mark. Amrine's three-pointer 90 seconds later would give the Trojans a lead they would hold until the final seconds of the first half.

Back-to-back threes from Amrine with 8:05 to play until the break would give Trinity their largest lead of the night, 28-18 , capping a 12-2 run for the Trojans. The Eagles responded over the final four minutes of the half however, outscoring TIU 13-4 to close the half and take a 37-35 halftime lead.

A one-possession game at the break, both teams traded narrow leads four times in the first two minutes of the second act. Six unanswered points for the Eagles put SCU ahead 45-41 with 16:51 to play, but again the Trojans responded, as a three-pointer from Mead and a fastbreak layup from Jeremy Carlyle put TIU in front 53-49 at the 11:16 mark.

Trinity would take their largest lead of the second half after Henry French knocked down both shots at the line to put his team ahead by five, 59-54 with 7:58 to play. The Eagles scored on their next possession, starting a 12-4 run over the next four minutes. Threes from Mead and Carlyle would keep Trinity in the game, but with two made field goals over the final 3:50, the Eagles were able to stay in front down the stretch.

Four Trojans in all finished in double figures on the night. Led by Amrine's 18, Mead posted 15 points off the bench, while Zach Kirschbaum and Greg Carlyle scored ten points apiece. "Thomas was terrific tonight, and our whole locker room is happy for him and his accomplishment," said Roberts. "We'll be ready on Saturday to play a good opponent and compete with this group one last time."

Trinity will compete in the NCCAA National Championship 3rd-Place Game on Saturday, against the host and 4th-seeded Grace (Ind.) Lancers, in a rematch of the LaQuinta Classic showdown on Nov. 7, that saw the Lancers take an 86-71 win in Van Dixhorn Arena. Tipoff for the 3rd-place game is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.