BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- The Trinity International University men's basketball team welcomed the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees to Van Dixhorn Arena on Saturday afternoon in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action. After snapping a six-game skid earlier in the week with a win over Cardinal Stritch, TIU looked to put together consecutive wins for the first time this season. TIU dropped the first meeting of the season against the Bees back on November 23 as they fell 82-73 in Davenport.

St. Ambrose, one of the top teams in the CCAC this season, came out of the gates swinging with a Tom Kazanecki three-point shot, one of 13 that the Bees would knock down during the day. The Trojans would struggle to find the basket in the opening minutes and would be held without a field goal until the 15:47 mark of the first half when Diamond Presniakovas knocked down TIU's first layup. From both distance and mid-range, SAU shot lights out while the Trojans struggled to find rhythm in their shot as they shot just 30% from the field in the first half. St. Ambrose, who hit over 50% on their shots in the first 20 minutes, would take a 46-25 lead into halftime.

Ron Pehka would score the Trojan's first five points of the second half off a three-point bucket and a pair of free throws. SAU's offense would continue its dominance from all areas of the floor, including from three-point distance, where John Kerr would knock down six of the Bee's 13 shots from downtown. Turning the ball over 11 times, SAU would outscore the Trojans 13-4 off turnovers as the Bees shut down TIU 81-53.

Pehka would end the game with a team-high nine points, five rebounds, and four assists in the loss. Presniakovas notched seven points and four rebounds, while Jeremy Bonifacio recorded eight points and six boards in 21 minutes off the bench.

The Trojans return to the floor on Wednesday, January 29 as they host the Trinity Chrisitan College Trolls. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30PM at Van Dixhorn Arena.

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.