POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - In the biggest stage to date this season, Trinity International held their opponents to the second-lowest point total of the year, as a high-pressure defense secured a 72-55 victory for the Trojans over the host College of the Ozarks (Mo.), in the first round of the 2017 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship on Wednesday night.

Box Score | Season Stats

Sophomore guard Jeremy Carlyle led the Trojans (29-5) with 19 points, finishing as the team's highest scorer for the fourth game in a row. Senior Zach Kirschbaum picked up his 23rd double-double of the year, most in the NAIA Divison II, with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

College of the Ozarks (20-10) would take an early 2-0 lead, before Luke Mead's three-pointer at the 15:01 mark put the Trojans ahead 5-2, and the Bobcats would not retake a lead the rest of the way. Back-to-back three-pointers from Greg and Jeremy Carlyle extended the advantage to 23-12 with 6:57 remaining in the first half. Trinity would take a ten-point lead into the halftime break, with Jeremy Carlyle leading the way with 10 points.

The Bobcats rallied after the break, pulling to within four points after Kiefer Starbird scored at the 18:18 mark to make it a 33-29 score. Trinity would respond, scoring 13 straight points midway through the second half to pull away. The team's largest lead would come on Grant Corsi's three-pointer at the 6:33 mark, 58-37.

Trinity earns their second-ever win in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship, and their first since 1996-97. The Trojans have the chance to advance further than the program has ever before on Friday night, March 11, when they face Taylor (Ind.) in the second round, beginning at 7:30 p.m.