BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- The Trinity International University men's basketball team battled the St. Xavier Cougars on Wednesday night in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action at Van Dixhorn Arena. Coming off a gritty win at Roosevelt last weekend, TIU looked to build off their momentum against a Cougar team receiving votes to the NAIA's Top 25 poll.

TIU opened the game making their first two shots, layups for Jeremy Bonifacio and Diamond Presniakovas. After a closely contested first five minutes, the SXU offense locked into their rhythm and didn't look back, sinking three baskets from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes, as well as 62% of their shots from the floor. The Trojans were able to work Ron Pehka inside the lane for 11 first half points, but TIU struggled to keep up with the high-scored, fast-paced Cougars as they entered the halftime break trailing 58-34.

The Trojans put together a solid second half of play, working through Thadeous Johnson in the paint. Despite the SXU offense still rolling, TIU limited the Cougars to just two baskets from downtown as they would hit six of their own, two of which coming from the arm of Johnathan Johansson. Bonifacio was able to give the Trojans more opportunities on offense with three steals, in addition to his four rebounds and four assists. Ultimately, despite a better offensive flow in the second frame, SXU's fire power proved to be too much as the Trojans fell by a score of 97-75.

Johnson led TIU with a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Pehka notched 13 points on a five-of-nine shooting night while Nate Schmidt, Johansson and Presniakovas each scored eight points.

The Trojans return to the floor on Saturday, February 15 as they visit the University of St. Francis Fight Saints in Joliet. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00PM.

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.