Trinity Men Edge Millsaps in Final Regular Season Home Game

San Antonio -Trinity senior center Peter Garatoni of San Antonio (MacArthur) made a layup with two seconds left, as the Tiger men came from behind to beat the Millsaps Majors 60-59 Sunday in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference game in Sams Gym.

Garatoni, playing in the Tigers' final regular-season home game, took the assist from sophomore guard Ryan Beall. Senior guard Bart Taylor, also of San Antonio (St. Mary's Hall), grabbed a rebound off a missed jump shot by Millsaps, with 12 seconds on the clock. Blake Martinez of Millsaps missed a 3-pointer, with one second remaining, as the Tigers won their fourth straight game.

Trinity improved to 10-11 and 7-6 SCAC. The Tigers, who have three conference road games left, moved up to third place in the SCAC West Division. Four teams from each of the conference two divisions qualify for the SCAC Tournament Feb. 26-28 at Millsaps, in Jackson. Miss. Millsaps, a 47-39 winner over Trinity on Jan. 9 in Mississippi, dropped to 9-12 and 5-8 SCAC.

The 6-foot-5 Garatoni led the Tigers with 14 points, shooting 6-9 from the field. He also had five rebounds.

Taylor added 11 points, going 3-6 beyond the arc. Junior forward Luke Caldarera of Houston (Katy Taylor) recorded a double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Caldarera also led the game with six assists. Beall, from Santa Barbara, Calif. (Dos Pueblos), scored five points and dished out three assists. Senior guard Michael Tobolowsky of Dallas (Greenhill School) produced nine points and three assists.

Martinez led the game with 23 points, the only Majors player to score in double figures.

Millsaps led Trinity 38-24 at halftime, shooting 62 percent, to the Tigers' 31 percent. The Tigers, down by as much as 16 points in the second half,  whittled the Majors' lead to one point, by outscoring Millsaps 14-1 in the final four minutes of the game. Garatoni started the rally with a jumper at 3:58, and Beall, who was fouled while making a 3-point attempt sank all three free throw attempts at 3:08. Trinity was down by seven (51-58, 3:08), at that point. Taylor brought the Tigers to within five (53-58, 2:22) with a jump shot, and Garatoni followed suit at 1:19. The Majors scored only on a free throw by Brian Merkel, with 59 seconds remaining.

Trinity senior forward Bryant Wilson of Dallas (Jesuit College Prep), took the Tigers to within one point, 58-59, by a 3-pointer with 49 seconds on the clock.

The Tigers shot 37 percent from the field, to 46 percent for the Majors. Both teams had 30 rebounds, but Trinity led 14-9 in offensive boards. The Majors committed 17 turnovers, compared to only 10 for the Tigers.

Taylor, Wilson, Garatoni and Tobolowsky, along with guard Terrance Blakely of Seattle, Wash. (Lakeside), all received seniors recognition prior to the game.

The Tigers continue their SCAC campaign Friday in Sherman, Texas, against Austin College, and travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., Saturday for a game with Colorado College.