WESTVILLE IN - The trojans used their high powered offense to increase their win streak to two as four players, Ignas Verbus (JR, Lithuania), Tyrone Smith (Jr, Detroit, MI) Patrick Atkins (JR, Chicago IL) and Danny Kirst (SR, Galena, IL) scored 20 points or more in TIU's 101-92 victory over Purdue North Central.  

The two teams battled back and forth for the lead for 40 minutes as PNC controlled most of the first half and TIU controlled the second half.  The Trojans came out as they have all season and took an early six point lead on the back of two Smith threes.  The panthers answered with a quick 11-1 run of their own to take an 11-7 lead.  PNC used hot shooting (6-10) from beyond the arc to hold a steady lead between six and eight points for most of the half. 

The Trojans used a steady three point game of their own to climb back into the game and tie it at 37 with an Atkins three pointer and take the lead after another Smith three.  Then with 2:30 left in the half the Panthers got hot and the Trojans went cold as PNC finished the half on another 11-1 run to take a 48-41 halftime lead.   

After letting PNC shoot over 58% from the field in the first half the Trojan Defense clamped down and much like the previous game against Calumet St. Joseph, the Trojans dominated the second half.  The Trojans knocked down their first four shots and held PNC to 48% from the floor in the second half.  Less than two minutes into the half the Trojans had erased their seven point deficit.  Then with the game tied at 60 the Trojans began an 11-0 run and give TIU their biggest lead of the game. 

PNC came back again and took a one point lead with six minutes remaining.  The two teams would trade leads until Atkins knocked down a jumper with 3:35 remaining to give ther Trojans the lead for good.  Atkins finished with a phenominal statisctical night as he filled up the stat sheet with 24 points 10 assists 7 rebound and 4 steals.  The Trojans would pull away in the final minutes and finish with a 101-92 victory their second in a row. 

The Trojans next travel to Cardinal Stritch to play for first place in the conference on Saturday January 16 at 7:30PM.