SAN ANTONIO – No. 18 Trinity University Men's Basketball opened the 2022-23 home schedule, and the 2022 Leslie Robinson Thanksgiving Classic, with a fast-paced 91-85 victory over McMurry University Friday in Calgaard Gym.

The Tigers (4-2) were led by a highlight performance in the career of senior AJ Clark (San Antonio, Texas / Johnson) as he tied a career-high with his 25 points, which also tied for the most by any player in the contest. Clark also posted a game-high 13 rebounds and was one of three Trinity players with a team-high four assists.

Junior Tanner Brown (San Antonio, Texas / Brandeis) was the second of four Tigers in double-figures Friday with 17 points on a five-for-nine line from the field. Senior Ben Hanley (Flower Mound, Texas / Flower Mound) and sophomore Jacob Millhouse (Plano, Texas / Independence) each added 12 points apiece. Millhouse's total was not only the second career-best in as many games this week, but also came through his first career start.

Trinity fell behind as many as eight points with seven minutes to go in the first half as it endured a 20-3 Warhawk run over the preceding eight minutes, a McMurry response to falling behind 18-9 in the early going. Despite the massive run, the Tigers went into the half down just five points and regained the lead for good with six minutes to play in the second half.

No. 18 Trinity Men's Basketball hosts Hardin-Simmons University to conclude the Leslie Robinson Thanksgiving Classic Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

The Rundown

The Tigers worked out to their largest lead of the half, 18-9, before the 14-minute mark with five of Clark's 25 points, and four more from junior Grayson Herr (Farmington, Conn. / Farmington). All of Clark's handful in the opening run came in a 12-4 advantage less than three minutes past the tip-off.

The tide turned quickly in the Bell Center Friday as the Warhawks found their first lead, 22-21, just seconds past the midway point of the first half. The lead change was logged in the midst of a 20-3 stretch for McMurry that reached past the under-eight media break, 29-21 Warhawks.

A strong finish in the paint from sophomore Braxton Barry (Houston, Texas / Westbury Christian) was the first bucket of a 9-0 Trinity run that responded to its largest deficit of the game, followed by a transition three-pointer from Hanley and five-straight points from Brown, to take a 33-31 lead.

The Tigers slipped late in the first, back down to a seven-point margin but a buzzer-beating jumper from senior Kaleb Jenkins (New Orleans, La. / Metairie Park) on the baseline brought the game to its 46-41 tally in favor of McMurry.

Ten unanswered points for Trinity in the early moments of the second half put the Tigers back in control, powered by eight of Millhouse's career-high 12 points in just over a two-minute window.

Made three-pointers on back-to-back McMurry possessions drew things close once again, leading to another deadlock at 59-59, with 13 minutes to play. Although the Warhawks brought the game even at this juncture, it took another two-plus minutes to briefly regain a lead. McMurry never led by more than three points after a made three at 18:20 left in the second half posted a five-point margin.

Facing what would be the final deficit of the afternoon, Clark went on a tear as he either scored or assisted on 12 of Trinity's final 18 points in the last 6:30 of play, including a pivotal make from beyond the arc to briefly reach a three-possession advantage, 87-80, with 2:40 to play.

Up Next

No. 18 Trinity will battle Hardin-Simmons Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. to conclude the 2022 Leslie Robinson Thanksgiving Classic.

The 2022-23 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season begins for the Tigers with a weekend eastbound road trip with visits to Centenary College (Dec. 2) and University of St. Thomas (Dec. 4).

After a two-week hiatus for the end of the semester, Trinity will host its next four contests, starting with the 2022 Leslie Robinson Christmas Classic December 21-22, followed by home SCAC contests with Schreiner University (Dec. 29) and Colorado College (Jan. 2).