MITCHELL, S.D. --- The Trinity International University men's basketball team took to the floor on Saturday night as they battled the seventh-ranked Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers in their opening game of the 2020 Hoops City Classic at the Corn Palace. Coming off a 14-point loss to Saint Xavier a week earlier, TIU looked to find some momentum as they began a tough weekend against a pair of nationally ranked opponents.

After the Trojans jumped ahead with an early 5-4 lead in the first four minutes, DWU grabbed their first lead of the night with a three-point shot by Ty Hoglund. Holding the Tigers to 36% shooting in the first half, TIU was able to keep up with the high-powered Tiger offense throughout the first 20 minutes of play. Nate Schmidt and Micah James would each hit a pair of baskets from downtown, while Brandon McQueen notched six rebounds in the first half to trail by just five points at halftime, 38-33.

While the Trojans were able to slow down DWU from scoring, they struggled greatly in the second half to find the net, finding the basket on just 29% in the half. TIU was able to grab 11 offensive rebounds, but had trouble recovering the ball on defense as the Tigers outrebounded the Trojans by eight. Totaling just 28 points in the half, led by eight points each from Diamond Presniakovas and Thadeous Johnson, DWU was able to score 20 points at the free throw line during the night to close out the game and hand TIU the 81-61 loss.

McQueen ended the night as the Trojan's leading scorer with 13 points and ten rebounds. Ron Pehka and Presniakovas scored nine points, while Johnson fell just two points shy of a double-double with eight points and ten boards.

TIU returns to action on Sunday, December 29 as they take on top-ranked the Morningside Mustangs in their final game of 2019. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

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.