SHERMAN, Texas - Trinity University Men's Basketball suffered a 77-58 defeat to University of St. Thomas Sunday afternoon in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship game to round out the 2022 tournament on the campus of Austin College.

The Tigers (22-5, 13-3 SCAC) entered Sunday's action with the SCAC's automatic bid into the 2022 NCAA III championship tournament already in their pocket as the Celts are still in the final transition year to NCAA III.

First-year guard Jacob Harvey (Huffman, Texas / Hargrave) reached the 20-point plateau for the first time in his Trinity career as he led the Tigers' offensive effort with a seven-of-eight performance from the floor, three-of-four from beyond the arc.

Junior forward Enzo Sechi (Houston, Texas / Memorial) joined the Tiger rookie in double-figures with 12 points, but was part of a nearly-teamwide struggle from three-point range. Aside from Harvey's line, the Tigers combined for just one made three-pointer in 23 attempts, none of the 19 attempts from the starting lineup.

Trinity Men's Basketball awaits the NCAA III Men's Basketball National Championship selection show on Monday at 11:30 a.m. CT to find out where the first and second rounds of postseason action will be hosted for the Tigers.

The Rundown

The Tigers trailed by double-digits for most of the first period of Sunday's action, including a brief 20-point margin in the final minute of the half. All of Harvey's made three-pointers came before intermission for 14 points, more than all but two full games' totals this season for the first-year.

Senior guard AJ Clark (San Antonio, Texas / Johnson) brought the Trinity deficit back to single digits with around 15 minutes to go with the eighth point in the Tigers' 10-0 second-half opening run. Another make inside on the next possession from senior guard Ben Hanley (Flower Mound, Texas / Flower Mound) brought the margin within two possessions for the first time since the day began.

A 16-5 run for St. Thomas was logged in response over the next five minutes for the largest lead of the half to that point at 58-41, but another Trinity rally ensued. Senior guard Jordan Lippman (Austin, Texas / Round Rock) scored his five points in back-to-back trips to the offensive end, capped by his three-pointer at the end of an 11-0 rebuttal.

Two different trips to the free throw line for Sechi put the margin back to six points, the final coming with less than four minutes remaining. The Tigers unfortunately ran out of gas down the stretch.

Up Next

Trinity Men's Basketball will await further instruction from the NCAA on Monday morning to find out where the Tigers will be taking part in the 2022 championship tournament.