JOLIET, Ill. --- The University of St. Francis men's basketball team dug itself a 15-point hole in the opening half, but still had a chance to force overtime at the end of the game only to fall 80-78 in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup with Trinity International University on Monday afternoon at the Sullivan Center.  The game was the tenth decided by seven points or less for USF, which is now 4-6 in said contests.

Trinity International (10-7, 6-4 CCAC) shot 61.8 percent in the opening half (21-of-34) in building a 52-39 advantage at the break.  An 11-0 run put the Trojans up 18-8 and another string of eight unanswered points later on gave the guests their biggest lead of the day at 35-20.

The second half was a completely different story with TIU shooting just 41.3 percent (12-of-29) and scoring nearly half as many points (28).  USF (8-8, 7-5) matched its point total in each half.

The Saints got back into the game with a quick 12-2 burst over a 2:32 time span in the first five minutes of the second half.  Five different USF players contributed to the rally to get their team within 57-53 at the 15:37 mark.  It eventually got to a one-point game (63-62) at the 11:22 mark.

Trinity International was able to quell those storms, going back up by seven points at the eight-minute mark.  USF chipped away at that deficit getting within one point again with two minutes remaining and also with just 33 seconds to play. 

Both times the Saints had chances to take the lead for the first time since the 16:22 mark of the opening half, but were negated each time by turnovers.  For the second game in a row, USF was charged with 19 turnovers (a season high), which resulted in TIU gaining a 24-11 advantage in points off turnovers.

After Trinity International made the front end of a two-shot foul with 3.8 seconds remaining to make it 80-78, the Saints were fouled on the second miss and had the chance to force overtime with 3.3 seconds left.  However, they missed the front end of a one-and-bonus free throw as well as the layup on the rebound, which was blocked at the buzzer, in coming up just short in the end.

Darius Wright led all scorers with 20 points.  Aitor Anabitarte fell one rebound short of a double-double with his 19 points and nine rebounds, while EJ Charles netted 16 points and blocked three shots. 

Jack Kahoun and Brandon Lawani, who registered three blocks of his own, including the one at the end, each had 18 points for Trinity International. 

TIU finished the afternoon shooting 52.4 percent (33-of-63) to USF's 45.5 clip (25-of-55).  Both teams struggled from long range, shooting below 25 percent, while the Saints were a season-high 84 percent at the foul line (21-of-25).

Notes: Wright's 20-point performance was his third time reaching that total this year … Anabitarte and Charles' final scoring numbers were their second-highest totals of the season … Justin Phillips tied his season high, accounting for seven of the team's 15 points off the bench … Charles' three blocks tied a team season-high mark … In a quirk of the schedule, the two teams will meet again in just 12 days (Jan. 28) at Trinity International ... The Saints wrap up the three-game homestand on Wednesday when they face Indiana University South Bend at the Sullivan Center for a 7 pm tipoff.

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