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Men's Basketball

Trojans tourney run ends with loss to #1 Union (Ky.)

Box Score POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - Senior forward Zach Kirschbaum would lead No. 11 Trinity International with 15 points, but the second straight game with a slow start proved too much to overcome, as the Trojans fell Saturday night to top-ranked and No. 1 overall seed Union (Ky.), 98-60 in the quarterfinal round of the 2017 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship.

Box Score

"Tonight was not indicative of what this group did this season," said TIU head coach Boomer Roberts after his 100th game on the Trojan bench. "Our seniors have been unbelievable, and the rest of the guys followed their lead. They announced that TIU Basketball is for real to the rest of the country, and saw an entire University rally around them."

The Bulldogs (33-5) used three separate 10-0 runs in the first half to jump ahead 58-31 at the half.

Luke Mead's three-pointer with 12:22 to play would cut the lead to 22 points, at 70-48, but again Union responded with ten straight points to put the game out of reach.

Despite the loss, the Trojans finish the 2016-17 season with a program-record 30 victories and the first-ever CCAC regular season championship. The team also set new high marks with two National Championship tournament wins, tripling the total of NAIA postseason wins in program history. Their quarterfinal appearance represents the deepest postseason run in any sport in TIU history.

"All the success these guys have had, and they did it while staying humble and hungry, and growing as men," added Roberts. "I'm so proud of each guy, but it was an emotional locker room knowing that we'll never have this special group of guys compete together again. God is good in the wins and the losses, and what he did in and through our team was inspiring to so many people."

"I'd like to personally thank Sean, Luke, Nate, Henry, Zach, and Grant for what they've done for TIU and our basketball family. They are legends, who have set the bar for every other team we'll have."

 
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Players Mentioned

Zach Kirschbaum

#33 Zach Kirschbaum

F
6' 10"
Senior
Luke Mead

#4 Luke Mead

G
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Zach Kirschbaum

#33 Zach Kirschbaum

6' 10"
Senior
F
Luke Mead

#4 Luke Mead

6' 1"
Senior
G