San Antonio - The Trinity Tiger men's basketball team lost a 67-52 game to Whitworth (WA) University on Thursday night in Sams Gym.

Trinity fell to 0-8 overall this season, while Whitworth improved to 5-2. The game was a rematch of the 2014 NCAA Division III first round, when Whitworth prevailed 77-75 at Richardson, Texas.

The Tigers were led by a game-high 22 points from A.J. Pulliam, who shot a team season-high 70% (7-10) from the field. Pulliam also went 8-13 at the free throw line. Matt Selling added nine points, on 4-8 shooting. William Young paced the team with three assists in the game.

The first half was tightly played, as Whitworth led 25-22 with just under five minutes on the clock, but the Pirates pulled ahead to take a 34-24 lead at the intermission. The Tigers shot 56% in the opening stanza, and the Pirates made 52% of their shots. Trinity could get no closer than eight points in the second half, and Whitworth held as much as a 19-point advantage.

Each team shot better than 51% in the game, with the Pirates also hitting 58% beyond the arc. Trinity hit 38% in three-point range. Whitworth also converted 20 Tiger turnovers to 27 points, while Trinity had 16 points from the 18 lost possessions of Whitworth.

Kenny Love came off the bench and hit 3-6 three-pointers and 9-10 free throws to lead Whitworth with 20 points, while Christian Jurlina contributed 16.

The Tigers open their Holiday Classic Friday by taking on Wheaton (IL) College.  The tournament continues for Trinity on Saturday, hosting SUNYIT.  Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:00 p.m.  Also competing at the tournament will be fellow Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference schools Southwestern (TX) University, Schreiner (TX) University, and Texas Lutheran University.  Other teams include Anderson (IN) University and Pacific Lutheran University.