SAN ANTONIO – The No. 16 Trinity men's basketball team (6-1) won their first game at home this season, 81-73 against Hardin-Simmons University (4-4). After dominating the first half, the Tigers stepped up to survive a late Cowboys rally to earn the win.
Jackson Lawson (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) was the Tigers' top scorer for the first time this season, posting a career high 21 points on 54% (7-13) shooting.
Ben Estis (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) was the sole other player in double digits, recording 11 points and 5 rebounds on 50% (4-8) shooting. Trinity's key to the win came in their scoring efficiency, shooting 48% from the field and 42% from deep. Hardin-Simmons, who were even with or bested the Tigers in almost every other category, struggled mightily from three, shooting just 19%.
The Rundown
The Tigers started hot, scoring eight unanswered points in the first 3:15. The Cowboys answered with a run of their own, bringing the score back within three, 8-11, with 12:37 left to play. As the half went on, though, Hardin-Simmons could not get their shots from deep to fall, making just 17% (2-12) of their threes in the period. Things were still close late, with the Tigers holding just a six-point lead with 4:42 to play, 30-24. That's when the Lawson machine turned on, scoring 8 points in the final 5 minutes of play. The Tigers closed out the period on a dominant 15-2 run, taking a 45-26 lead into the break.
The tide began to turn in the second half, thanks to Trinity's struggle from deep in the period. After taking 20 threes and making 9 of them in the first, they took just 4 and made only 1 in the second. The Cowboys were cashing in from the field and chipping away at the lead, closing things to within single digits, 46-54, with 11:34 left to play. The momentum continued to favor Hardin-Simmons as the lead continued to decrease. With 3:50 left to play, the Tigers led by just three points, 68-65. In the final four minutes, however, the rim started to look small for the Cowboys, and Trinity pulled away for the last time. With 1:11 left to go, two
Dean Balo free throws put the game back out of reach, giving the Tigers a 79-67 lead. Trinity held on to take the 81-73 win, Coach Marwan Elrakabaway's first win with the Tigers in Calgaard Gym.
Looking Ahead
After just one game at home, the Tigers will head to Houston to take on the University of St. Thomas (3-1) on Dec. 6. Against the former SCAC opponent, Trinity has won just 2 of the two teams' 14 all-time matchups.
