WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Junior forward Grant Corsi led the way with 25 points, while Luke Mead scored a career high 21 points off the bench, but Trinity International were unable to secure a second-half lead, falling to the host Grace (Ind.) Lancers in the NCCAA Men's Basketball National Championship 3rd Place Game on Saturday, 91-87.

Box Score | Season Stats

In a rematch of their Nov. 7 meeting during the LaQuinta Classic, the Lancers (21-14) maintained a narrow lead throughout much of the first half, before Trinity (20-14) closed the period on an 11-4 run to claim a 48-45 halftime lead. The Trojans held their lead until the15:46 mark of the second half, when a quick 8-0 run from Grace put the home team in front 58-54.

Five unanswered points from Mead and Zach Kirschbaum edged TIU ahead 59-58, but the Lancers would reclaim the lead with a three-pointer with 12:15 to play. Grace would go up by as much as 12 points, the
largest lead for either side on the day, with 6:37 remaining, before the Trojans started to climb back.

Trinity would take 12 of the next 15 points to make it a one-possession game once again, with 2:55 left after a layup-and-1 from Mead. The Trojans were unable to pull even however, with Grant Corsi's bucket closing the gap to 89-87 with five seconds left. Grace's Chad Hoffer went 2-for-2 at the line after the intentional foul, securing the Lancers' win.

"This team, led by our two seniors, will be remembered as the foundation who changed the future of the TIU basketball program," said TIU head coach Boomer Roberts, after his team finished with Trinity's first winning season, as well as first 20-win season, since 1998-99. "To win 20 games just two seasons after winning five games is a testament to their senior leadership and our entire team's work ethic, love for each other, and their high-level commitment to competing every day."

"Losing is never fun, and everyone on our bench believed we would win this game," said Roberts. "Grant bounced back from being in foul trouble yesterday to have a monster game, and Zach was very good as well. We had good guard play off the bench from Luke and Greg [Carlyle], but everyone contributed. This week was a great experience for our team, and we will build on our success moving forward. We will miss James and Thomas, as people as much as players, but we return ten guys off this season's team who will be hungry to advance further next year, along with a very strong recruiting class who will contribute immediately. The future is very bright for our program."