Kyonte Thomas dribble
78
Winner Trinity International TIU 1-0, 0-0
70
Concordia (MI) CUAA 0-1, 0-0
Winner
Trinity International TIU
1-0, 0-0
78
Final
70
Concordia (MI) CUAA
0-1, 0-0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Trinity International TIU 28 50 78
Concordia (MI) CUAA 36 34 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Ethan Oskroba

Trojans detonate in second half to seal opening day win

ANN ARBOR, MI —The Trojans started the new year strong on Saturday, clawing their way back from an eight-point halftime deficit to emerge victorious over the Cardinals of Concordia University (Michigan) on the merits of a 50-point final frame.

The Trojans started off the contest slowly, witnessing the Cardinals drain a trio of triples to leap ahead 9-0 while missing on their own first six attempts from the field. Trojan senior Diamond Presniakovas finally stopped the bleeding for Trinity, muscling home an and-one layup and converting the subsequent free throw to get the Trojans on the board with a bang. After the opening score, the Trojans rallied to reduce the trailing margin to a single point, but the Cardinals again found their rhythm, ballooning the margin to a high watermark of 14 during the first half. Late in the period, the Trojans found a much-needed spark, rattling off a 10-0 run that was highlighted by a three-pointer by sharpshooter Colby Cross and an emphatic slam from fifth year Trojan star Brandon Lawani, who managed 24 minutes in his return from a long-term injury. Despite the impressive stretch, the Trojans still trailed when the halftime buzzer sounded, lagging behind 36-28.

It turned out the strong finish to the opening period was just a harbinger of what was to come after the halftime break. Trailing by nine early in the second, the Trojans caught fire for a 9-0 run that was sparked by a Jack Kahoun triple and knotted the score at 47 apiece. After the middle stages of the final frame transpired in see-saw fashion with the two squads trading buckets, the Trojans finally surged ahead on a Lawani layup with under nine minutes to go. The contest continued to be a nail-biter in the closing stages, with Concordia establishing a slim 68-67 lead with five minutes to go, but the Trojans claimed the advantage for good on a free throw by standout second-year guard Kyonte Thomas. With the lead in hand, Trinity uncorked a furious run to conclude the proceedings, pulling ahead by multiple possessions via clutch buckets from Xavier Cooper and Jaden Thomas before Kyonte Thomas sealed the deal with a pair of makes from the charity stripe to set the final reckoning at 78-70 Trinity.

The Trojans showcased their resilience throughout the season-opening clash and their 50-point second half onslaught gave more than a glimpse into the firepower of fourth-year Trojan coach Greg Miller's offense. Trinity received balanced contributions up and down the roster throughout the ballgame, with Kyonte Thomas leading the way with 17 points on a day where nine Trojans checked into the scoresheet. Other Trojan stars included Cooper, who was a menace in the paint with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double; Presniakovas, who dropped 10 points and five boards on an efficient four of seven from the field; and Lawani, who mustered nine points, five rebounds, and four blocks in his return to the floor.

The Trojans (1-0) will again voyage north or the border as they square off with University of Michigan-Dearborn on the night of Friday, November 4th.
 
 

TIU Trojans

 

 

TIU Men's Basketball

 

 

 

 

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.
 
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