JOLIET, Ill.--- Shooting 57.7 percent from beyond three-point arc (15-of-26) and 55.6 percent overall (35-of-63), sharpshooting Trinity International University was too much for the University of St. Francis men's basketball team as the Trojans claimed a 97-90 victory in first-round action of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAC) Tournament on Tuesday night at the Sullivan Center.
With the result, USF's hopes for a second tournament title in the past three years ends with the Saints concluding their season at 14-10. Trinity International, meanwhile, keeps its conference tournament championship thoughts alive improving to 10-7 on the campaign.
The Saints, who shot well overall (49.6 percent), but were just 6-of-26 from three-point range (23.1 percent), had five players reach double figures. EJ Charles recorded his best game of the season. The sophomore forward finished with a season-best 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The Mokena native also recorded two blocks, two steals and three assists. Joey Buggemi (JR/Frankfort, Ill.) drained three shots from beyond the arc en route to a 16-point night.
Russell Tillery (SR/Portland, Ore.) hit for 15 points and also came away with a couple of steals as well as three assists. Off the bench, Carter Fayhee (JR/Macomb) nailed six of his seven attempts from the floor in totaling 14 points. Lewis Holey (SR/Sydney, Australia) recorded his fourth double-double of the year netting 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The first half began with both teams trading baskets. With the game tied at 22 at the 10-minute mark, TIU went on a 10-4 run to gain a 32-26 lead with 6:05 left in the half. The Trojans would extend the advantage to as high as 12 points (44-32) near the end of the half before heading into the break with a 49-42 lead courtesy of a 64.3 percent three-point scoring output (9-of-14).
Down but not out, the Saints opened the second half with a 13-6 run that would tie the game at 55. That score, however, would be the closest the Saints would get to a second-half lead as Trojan guard Brandon McQueen took over after the intermission. McQueen carried the Trojans with 24 second-half points en route to a spectacular 40-point night.
McQueen was joined in double figures by Jack Kahoun, who had 14 points off the bench. Jonathan Johansson made the most of his nine minutes of play, scoring 11 points on four consecutive baskets, three of which were from long range.
The Saints held Brandon Lawani, the CCAC's second-leading scorer, to only 12 points. Lawani produced a game-high 28 points when the Saints defeated Trinity International 69-68 just ten days earlier (Feb.13).
With a season full of unexpected challenges, head coach Ryan Marks' team finished with a record of 14-10. The performance gives Marks 138 total wins since joining the Saints in 2013.
