DEERFIELD, Ill. - Despite leading by double digits with just over five minutes to play, Trinity International needed two big defensive stops to hold off the St. Ambrose Bees, earning an 83-79 victory Tuesday night inside Van Dixhorn Arena.

Box Score

Trailing 75-63 with 5:45 to play, St. Ambrose (5-9, 3-4 CCAC) rallied to outscore Trinity 16-3 over the next four minutes, earning half of those points at the free throw line. A pair of free throws from Luke Mead on the Trojans' next possession would put the home team back in front with 1:00 remaining, and the Bees would miss on back-to-back go-ahead three-pointers to close out the game.

"Most of our conference games are going to be close, and we keep finding ways to get it done," said Trinity head coach Boomer Roberts after the team's eighth consecutive victory. "I'm proud of our guys for being tough tonight, in a game where it was difficult to stay poised." 

The Trojans (14-3, 7-1 CCAC) held an early 19-8 advantage after eight different players put points on the board by the 11:34 mark of the first half. St. Ambrose would rally to even the score at 29 with a three-pointer from Lee Hardrick with 4:30 left before the halftime break. After Mead's three-pointer with just over a minute left put the home team up by seven, the visitors again cut into the deficit, leaving the Trojans with just a two-point edge, 41-39 at the break. Mead, Grant Corsi, and Greg Carlyle would lead the Trojans with seven points apiece in the first half.

Managing a small edge throughout most of the second half, Trinity would take their largest lead of the day at the 8:44 mark, when T.J. Johnson's layup gave the Trojans a 71-59 advantage. About three minutes later is when the Bees would begin charging back, but after falling behind, the Trojans would score the game's final five points to secure the team's eighth straight win.

"We got stops and hit free throws down the stretch, which you need to do to win in league play," said Roberts. "We've got a lot of belief in one another in the locker room, and it shows each game."

Corsi finished as the Trojans' leading scorer, posting 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Zach Kirschbaum scored 15 points, while Mead and Greg Carlyle came off the bench for 14 and 11, respectively.

A busy week for Trinity continues, as the team prepares for a Thursday night matchup at Cardinal Stritch. Tipoff against the Wolves from Milwaukee is set for 7:30 p.m.