SHERMAN, Texas — The Trinity University Tiger men's basketball team secured an 82-61 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Austin College on Friday night, extending their winning streak to six games.
Trinity improved to 12-3 this season with the win, as well as holding a 5-1 record in conference play. Austin College dropped to 6-9 overall and 1-5 in the SCAC. The win keeps the Tigers atop the SCAC Gold Division and gives the team the second-best record overall in league play.
Jacob Harvey (Huffman, Texas / Hargrave) led the Tigers with a game-high 18 points, connecting on 6-of-13 shots, including five three-pointers. Harvey also contributed three rebounds, providing consistent scoring throughout the night.
Christian Green (San Antonio, Texas / Veterans Memorial) delivered a well-rounded performance with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Green's efforts were crucial in Trinity's offensive execution. Off the bench,
Ty Williams (Pearland, Texas / Pearland) contributed 11 points, shooting 4-of-4 from the field, and grabbed five rebounds. His energy and efficiency played a pivotal role in maintaining the Tigers' momentum.
Dean Balo (Dallas, Texas / JJ Pearce) added 12 points and a team-leading seven rebounds, further anchoring Trinity's balanced attack.
The Tigers asserted control early, opening the game with a commanding lead and maintaining their advantage throughout. Their defense forced 12 turnovers, converting them into 14 points, while the bench contributed an impressive 37 points. Trinity also held a 21-7 advantage in second-chance points, added by a 44-31 margin on the boards that included 13 offensive rebounds.
Austin was in the game early as both teams traded leads over the first few minutes; however, Harvey jump-started a 14-3 run for the Tigers that gave them a 19-9 lead midway through the first period. The 'Roos broke up the streak with six straight points of their own and hung in close with Trinity the rest of the half. Austin pulled within one possession briefly at 21-18, but Trinity held onto the lead the rest of the way. The Tigers led 34-29 at the break after Austin connected on a three-pointer in the final 30 seconds to close out the first-half scoring.
The second half began with Austin College on fire and taking the lead after scoring 10 of the first 12 points of the period. That jolted the Tiger players into action, responding with a 15-2 run of its own to take a 10-point lead (51-41) with under 14 to play. Green started the run with consecutive baskets to take the lead, then
Carter Ruck (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) buried a three-pointer and assisted Green on the next Trinity score.
Zach Fenn (Covington, La. / Saint Paul's) got in on the action with an and-one three-point play, then Harvey put the exclamation point on the run in the form of a three-point bucket that put the lead back to double figures. Austin College was still just nine points down a few minutes later when Trinity put the game away for good with a 13-0 scoring spurt to lead by 22 at the midway point of the period. Balo scored the final five points of the run and Harvey joined him with five points of his own in the decisive streak. Austin College never got closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Up Next
Trinity will be back on the road next weekend, taking on McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 24. The Tigers then face Concordia University in Austin, Texas, on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
