Box Score DEERFIELD, Ill. - In one of the most anticipated games of the season, and a rematch of the 2017 NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 game, the Trojans came up just short in an incredible offensive performance, falling 101-97 to the #15 Taylor Trojans on Saturday evening.

TIU controlled the pace early on in the contest shooting the ball well from long range right from the opening tip. Greg Carlyle and his brother Jeremy Carlyle came out of the gates quickly, combining to go 5-8 from three point range and racking up 12 and 10 points each in the opening frame. After a solid performance on either side of the ball the Trojans saw themselves go into the locker room with a 48-40 lead at the break.

The second half saw back and forth action right from the get go. After a couple of quick baskets two minutes into the half Taylor began to battle back, rattling off 10 consecutive points to take their first lead of the game. From that moment there would be four second half lead changes with neither side able to grab more than a six point lead.

In the latter moments of the second half after two clutch free throws from Tyrone Carey and the game tied 95-95 Taylor began to pull away. After a basket from Ryan Robinson to make it 97-95, the Trojans were unable to cut into the Taylor lead. Four straight free throws from Mason Degenkolb would ice the game, handing the Trojans their first loss of the season.

"Taylor was really impressive tonight, especially in the second half when we were exposed defensively. It's pretty clear we've got a long ways to go on that end," said Head Coach Boomer Roberts.

"They are a team with all returners and veterans, and we are a pretty new and young team. We scored 97 points and shot over 50% from three," said Roberts."Until we understand that our identity has to be in getting stops, we won't get to the level we want to compete at. But we will get there."

The Trojans will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to Wisconsin to take on Silver Lake College at 8 pm.