PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. --- Sparked by an 18-2 run from its second unit midway through the second half, the University of St. Francis men's basketball team got back even both overall (4-4) and in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (3-3) with its 80-76 road victory over Trinity Christian College on Thursday night.

Ben Kreitz delivered eight of the 18 points over the five-minute span with a pair of three-pointers and a layup, while Justin Phillips also hit a trey and another field goal to turn the Saints' biggest deficit (52-44) into a 62-54 lead with 7:42 remaining in the contest.  Jake Karli started the burst with his three-pointer with Casmir Ochiaka also providing an inside basket.

Karli's field goal was the first of seven in a row over eight possessions for USF, which also delivered a similar hot stretch to open the contest.  In the first one, head coach Ryan Marks' club hit its first five shots from the field and another four free throws to lead 15-3 just four minutes into the game.

St. Francis stretched that lead to as high as 13 points (32-19) with just under five minutes remaining before the break.  Trinity Christian, however, was not about to give in, rallying for 14 of the final 17 points of the half to get within 35-33 at the break.  That was part of an overall 19-3 run for the hosts, who gained a 38-35 lead just 73 seconds into the second half.

The Saints would never trail again after their second-half surge, but the Trolls did make things interesting a second time when they pulled to within 68-67 with 3:19 to play.  That was the second of two times TCC would get within one point before Carter Fayhee strung together seven straight points to stretch St. Francis' lead back up to eight points at 75-67 with 1:19 remaining.

Fayhee would tie Aitor Anabitarte for team-high scoring honors with 16 points each.  Thirteen of Anabitarte's markers came in the opening 20 minutes, including six in the initial run.  Fayhee produced a solid all-around game, leading the club in rebounds (eight), assists (four) and steals (four), as well.  Anabitarte also provided seven rebounds and three steals.

Darius Wright joined the duo in double figures with his 15 points.

Trinity Christian's Saeer Miller came off the bench to lead all scorers.  He totaled 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark from three-point range.

Both teams had big offensive second halves, combining for 88 points.  Both went 6-of-10 from three-point range after the break and shot no less than 53 percent from the field in the closing 20 minutes.  The Saints were also a very healthy 20-of-25 at the foul line on the night.

Notes: Kreitz's eight points and two treys were both career highs … Fayhee tied USF's season-high mark with his four steals … After shooting a season-low .586 (17-of-29) at the free-throw line in a 94-91 double-overtime loss to Indiana University Northwest on Dec. 3, the Saints have converted 34 of their last 41 attempts at the foul line (.829) … USF's 12 turnovers in the game tied a season-low mark … The Saints wrap up their season-long, four-game road trip on Tuesday when they head to Whiting, Ind. to face Calumet College of St. Joseph in a noon start.   

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