Belton, TEXAS – The fresh look Trinity men's basketball team began the year with a road win at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Starting the year on a high note, Coach Elrakabaway led the Tigers to an 82-74 win in his first game as the program's head coach.
The starting five to start the season was almost completely different from last year's season opener.
Dean Balo (Dallas, Texas / JJ Peace) was the lone returning starter from that game. Joining him were
Will Bronson (Dallas, Texas / Jesuit),
Ben Estis (Southlake, Texas / Carroll),
Zach Fenn (Covington, Louisiana / Saint Paul's) and
Dylan Walker (Highland Park, Texas / Highland Park). Fenn is the only one of those four to have started a game previously for the Tigers, as he started 8 games last season.
The Tigers had five players in double figures, as
Dylan Walker led scoring with 15 points to go along with 4 rebounds. In his first career start,
Will Bronson had a dominant all-around performance, posting 11 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks on 83% shooting (5-6). Bronson's efforts on the defensive end, as well as Estis' 3 steals, were part of a stifling Tiger effort that held the Crusaders to just 32% shooting (24-75). While most stat categories were even between the two teams, the Tigers won the battle down low, outscoring UMHB 48-24 in points in the paint.
The Rundown
Walker began his Trinity career with a bang. Just twenty seconds in, he grabbed his own rebound off a missed three and slammed it home for the first points of the game. Neither team was able to create a meaningful gap throughout much of the first half. The Crusaders struggled shooting the ball, making only 26% of their shots (10-39). They made up for that deficit in offensive rebounds, though, grabbing 15 to the Tigers' 7. Trinity was finally able to create some daylight late in the first period, going on a short run to close the half up seven, 37-30.
Coming out of the break, the Tigers kept the momentum rolling, opening up their largest lead of the game a minute into the half, 41-30. UMHB would not go away, and they fought back to reclaim the lead four minutes later. The Crusaders shot over 40% from beyond the arc in the second half (8-19), and it was their efficiency from deep that kept them in the game. The back-and-forth trend from the first half returned, and neither team made any comfortable headway. With 1:56 left in the game, the Tigers led by one, 74-73. That's when the Trinity defense really picked up, recording two steals and a forced turnover over the final two minutes to fuel an 8-1 run to close things out. The final score saw Trinity on top, 82-74.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will hope to carry this early momentum into the Midway Classic at the University of Chicago from Nov. 15-16. The trip will be a big test for Trinity, as they match up against third-ranked Emory University and 11th-ranked Chicago. The Tigers, currently receiving votes nationally, will have a chance to make a big statement on their trip north.
