BANNOCKBURN, ILL. --- With their third home game this week, the Trojans faced off again today against another CCAC opponent, this time the Fighting Saints of St. Francis University. After a tight first half Trinity let loose and left the Saints behind, winning the game 88-76.
With another strong start, the Trojans went up 9-3 after the first of five dunks by Leon Williams. The Fighting Saints battled back but struggled to overtake the lead. A 3-pointer by Jaden Thomas with 11 minutes to play created a 10 point lead for the Trojans, but their offense would slow in the next few minutes allowing St. Francis to close the gap. Several missed 3-pointers and lack of rebounds gave St. Francis a single point lead going into the break.
In the second half, the Fighting Saints increased their lead early, going up by as many as seven points before Trinity turned it back on with a 20-5 run started by a 3-pointer by Jack Kahoun. Williams added three more dunks in that run and the crowd was on their feet. With less than six minutes remaining, the Trojans led 67-58.
Kyonte Thomas found Brandon McQueen outside the perimeter with less than three minutes on the clock and the Trojans sank another three points. The Saints tried to answer but couldn't sustain any attack as the Trojans dominated the boards on their defensive end. With 14 seconds on the clock, Brandon McQueen dropped a couple of free throws bringing his career total points to exactly 1,500 and at the final whistle, Trinity had its second win this week.
Additional Game Notes
- Tonight's matchup was the 19th all-time meeting between Trinity and St. Francis. Today's result brings the Trojans to 10-14 overall and 6-10 in the CCAC
- The Trojans are currently ranked 5th in the nation for total points scored (2,077) and 18th for 3PT made, averaging 9.6 per game.
- Trinity is ranked 7th for points per game, averaging 86.5 and 10th for field goals made per game
- The Trojans are also ranked 11th for steals per game, averaging 9.7
- Sterling Brown led the Trojans on the night with 18 points and 4 rebounds; he also posted a season high 10-13 at the free throw line
- Jaden Thomas tied his career high 2 3-pointers
- Jack Kahoun tied his career high rebounds per game with seven
- Six Trojans shot double-digits: Brown (18), Diamond Presniakovas (14), McQueen (13), Leon Williams (13), Jaden Thomas (12) and Kyonte Thomas (11)
- Brandon McQueen earned his 1,500th career point during tonight's game
- Sterling Brown brought his career total points to 1,559 after tonight's performance
Up Next
The Trojans(10-14) are back home on Wednesday, February 2nd, for another CCAC matchup against the Trolls of Trinity Christian College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm CT. The game can be live streamed 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.
