BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- The TIU men's basketball team returned home for the first time in two weeks on Saturday afternoon as they hosted the Lakers of Roosevelt University in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) showdown. Having lost their last three games, and first two league matchups, the Trojans looked to snap out of their recent skid against a highly talented Laker team.

Trinity and Roosevelt would stay locked neck-and-neck for much of the first half of play, with both teams shooting over 58% from the field. TIU dominated from beyond the arc with nine three-point baskets in the first 20 minutes of action, with three coming from the shooting arm of Brandon McQueen, and two each from Sterling Brown and Jack Kahoun. Forcing eight Trojan turnovers, the Lakers would build a ten point lead into the halftime break, 58-48.

TIU came out swinging in the second half, shutting down Roosevelt's long range game and forcing 14 personal fouls to create 23 free throw attempts at the charity stripe. Trinity also used the size and rebounding skills of Diamond Presniakovas to prevent several Laker second chance scoring opportunities as both he and Brown took over the second half offensively. Forcing 13 turnovers and recording seven second half steals, the Trojans outscored the Lakers 60-32 in the second frame, cruising to an 18-point victory, 108-90.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• The Trojans improve to 12-7 all-time against the Lakers with their win on Saturday.

• TIU has now won their last five matchups against Roosevelt dating back to the 2018-19 season, including nine of the last ten meetings.

• Saturday marked Trinity's first game scoring at least 100 points since Feb. 22, 2020 in a 113-108 win at Calumet St. Joseph in five overtime periods.

• TIU's 60 points in the second half against the Lakers marked their highest scoring half since posting 61 points against Lincoln Christian back on Dec. 18, 2018.

• Trinity tied their season-high in team assists on Saturday with 23. The Trojans also dished out 23 assists against Culver-Stockton two weeks ago.

• The Trojan bench outscored Roosevelt 37-22 in Saturday's win.

• Roosevelt dominated from inside the paint, outsourcing TIU 60-30.

• Sterling Brown's 26 points against the Lakers mark his fourth game of 25 or more points this season. Brown is currently averaging 20.8 points per game through TIU's seven games this year.

• Brown's six three-point baskets against Roosevelt were a season-high, breaking his previous season-best of five against Culver-Stockton.

• Diamond Presniakovas' 22 points on Saturday were a season-high.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (4-3) return to action next on Tuesday night as they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Cardinal Stritch Wolves. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm CT as the CSU Fieldhouse, with the game being streamed LIVE on the Wolves Sports Network.
 

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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.