ST. LOUIS, Mo. --- The Trinity International University men's basketball team opened the 2019-2020 season on the road as they took on the Harris-Stowe State Hornets at the Emerson Performance Center on Saturday afternoon. Under the leadership of new head coach Greg Miller, the Trojans looked to improve after a 15-15 season a year ago.

The Hornets began the game with a quick start out of the gate before Micah James and Diamond Presniakovas got the TIU offense rolling. After falling behind by seven points in the opening minutes, the Trojans evened the game up with under ten minutes to go in the first half. TIU took advantage of the three point shooting game as they sank ten baskets from behind the arc compared to HSSU's two. However, the Hornets controlled the inside game as they took a 36-28 halftime lead.

TIU struggled for the first four minutes of the second half as they were held scoreless while HSSU opened the period on a 10-0 run. Backed by Presniakovas' inside game, Thadeous Johnson and Ron Pehka found their strides as they worked to chip away at the Hornet lead. However the Hornets, dominating in the offensive rebound department, didn't allow the Trojans to get many opportunities on offense. Despite outscoring HSSU 41-37 in the second half, it was not enough as the Trojans dropped their season opener in a close battle, 73-69.

Pehka led TIU with a team-high 22 points, while James scored 18 off the bench. Johnson grabbed 14 total rebounds for the Trojans, including 12 on defense, while Brandon McQueen dished out five assists.

The Trojans return to action on Saturday, November 2 as they visit Goshen College to take on the Maple Leafs at 2:00PM in Indiana.

Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.