Jack Kahoun layup
Berith Han
80
Winner Trinity International TIU 10-7, 6-4
78
St. Francis (Ill.) USF 8-8, 7-5
Winner
Trinity International TIU
10-7, 6-4
80
Final
78
St. Francis (Ill.) USF
8-8, 7-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Trinity International TIU 52 28 80
St. Francis (Ill.) USF 39 39 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Trojans edge Fighting Saints in narrow victory

JOLIET, Ill. —  Yesterday afternoon the Trojans took a short trip south for their latest conference game against the Fighting Saints. A stellar first half gave Trinity the lead they needed to resist a strong second half push from St. Francis, walking away with just a two-point margin of victory, 80-78.

Through the first four minutes, the score remained close before the Trojans caught fire with a 13-point run. Kyonte Thomas got it started with a layup before a trey by Jack Kahoun took the lead from Saint Francis and never gave it back. Halfway through the opening stanza, Trinity held a ten point lead following a pair of free throws from Thomas. Throughout the first half, the Trojans held the lead by as many as 15 points after another short run of layups by Brandon Lawani, Xavier Cooper and Diamond Presniakovas. Trinity controlled the floor in the final three minutes, allowing the Fighting Saints just six points from the charity line. Entering the halftime break, Trinity led 52-39 after shooting 61.8% from the field with contributions from nine different players.

The Fighting Saints held to their namesake and came out of the intermission ready to do battle, closing the Trojans' lead to just four points within five minutes of the second half. For the remainder of the game it was a battle of single digits as Trinity maintained their lead, though St. Francis came within a single point with 11 minutes left to play. A short run of six points, initiated by Asher Blum gave the Trojans another slight cushion before the Fighting Saints answered with a pair of back to back buckets from the perimeter. As the clock dwindled and tensions rose, the Fighting Saints twice climbed within just one point in the final two minutes as the Trojan resolve held firm to the final buzzer with Thomas sinking a free throw in the final seconds to give a two point margin. Clinching victory with a statement, Lawani blocked the Saints final attempt to tie the score and walked away victorious.

Leading the offense, Jack Kahoun and Brandon Lawani both dropped 18 points a piece, a season-high for both Trojans. Beneath the boards, Lawani also took the lead by collecting eight rebounds alongside Xavier Cooper with the same. The Trojans created more points from turnovers, forcing 19 from the Fighting Saints, as well as converted more points from the bench. Trinity currently ranks 5th in the nation in steals, averaging 10.9 per game.

The Trojans(10-7) travel for their second of three games this week on Thursday afternoon, heading north to Watertown, Wisconsin for a non-conference game against the Sabercats of Maranatha Baptist University. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00pm.
 
 

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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