NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- The TIU men's basketball team hit the road on Wednesday night as they visited the Holy Cross College Saints at McKenna Arena in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action. Coming off a one-point loss against St. Francis last weekend, the Trojans looked to bounce back with a much needed win as they began the final week of the regular season.

Against the reigning co-CCAC champions, the Trojans came out on the attack with a strong shooting performance. Sinking 56% of their shots in the first half, Trinity found their offense in the paint through both Brandon McQueen and Brandon Lawani, assisted by excellent ball movement. Diamond Presniakovas would also drain a pair of three-point shots as TIU went into the halftime break with an impressive ten point lead, 38-28.

A Jameir Jefferson jumper would give the Trojans a 16-point lead with just under five minutes gone in the second half, but the Saints would flip the switch after and turn around the entire game with an impressive 12-0 run to cut Trinity's lead to single-digits aided by TIU turnovers and depth on the Holy Cross bench. The Saints would take the lead with just over seven minutes to go before the final minutes turned into a highly competitive back-and-forth. 

Brandon Lawani's layup with 1:02 remaining in regulation would be the final basket of the second half, but enough to force the game to overtime. In the extra frame, McQueen would be Trinity's only option, scoring all 13 of the Trojan's overtime points, but it wouldn't be enough as the HCC offense continued its strong momentum from the second half to hand TIU the 84-79 loss.

McQueen and Lawani would each score 24 points in the loss, with Lawani notching ten rebounds for a double-double. Presniakovas notched 15 points, as Jefferson and Jack Kahoun each scored six. Leon Williams would also record seven rebounds for Trinity.
 

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• TIU falls to 6-13 all-time with tonight's loss. Holy Cross has now won the last seven consecutive meetings against Trinity. TIU's last win against the Saints came on Dec. 20, 2016 in Deerfield.

• Tonight was Trinity's first game this season against a team either receiving votes or ranked in the NAIA Top 25. The Trojans have lost seven straight games to ranked/vote receiving opponents with their last victory coming at Calumet St. Joseph on Jan. 26, 2019.

• Wednesday's game was the first overtime contest for the Trojans this season. TIU is 2-3 in the past five seasons in games that have gone to overtime.

• The Holy Cross bench outscored TIU 33-6 in the game as the Trojans saw just seven players enter the game.

• Brandon Lawani's 24 point, ten rebound double-double is his fifth of the season.

• Lawani's performance was his fourth consecutive game of 20+ points.

• Brandon McQueen's 21 field goal attempts against HCC are a career-high.

• Diamond Presniakovas set a new career-high with three baskets from beyond the arc, as well as a new career record for defensive rebounds in a game (5).

UP NEXT

The Trojans (8-7) will conclude the regular season on Saturday afternoon, February 20 as they host the Crimson Wave of Calumet College of St. Joseph at Van Dixhorn Arena on senior day. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00pm CT and can be followed LIVE on the Trojan 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.