PALOS HEIGHTS, IL-  The Trinity International University Trojans men's basketball team (6-22) ended their season tonight falling to the Trinity Christian College Trolls (11-17) in the first round of the CCAC playoffs, 72-77.


The Trojans put up a fight till the very last seconds of the contest, but the Trolls would end up overcoming all efforts securing their advancement into the CCAC playoffs.

The Trojans were appropriately lead by Danny Kirst (SR, Galena, IL) in his final game playing for TIU.  Kirst scored 18 points, shooting 6-12 from the field.  Ignas Verbus (JR, Lithuania) also had a very notable game with a double-double; scoring 17 points and bringing down an impressive 17 rebounds.  Patrick Atkins (JR, Chicago, IL) also contributed to the Trojans with 15 points and 6 assists.

The Trolls were lead by Will Bruinsma (SR, New Era, MI) scoring a commanding 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Matt Buren (SO, Macomb, IL) scored 14 points and brought down 8 rebounds.

The score was close throughout the first half with the Trojans taking their largest lead of the night being up by 6 points with 7:30 left in the half.  The Trolls would overcome this lead, ending the half up by 3 points, 34-37.

The battle would continue on into the second half between the Trojans and the Trolls.  TCC would start the second half with a purpose gaining their largest lead of the game of 13 points with 16:30 left.  The Trojans would chip away at the Trolls lead throughout the second half, tying the game with 6:13 left.  The lead would go back and forth between the teams tying up again with 1:21 left in the contest.  At that point the Trolls would take the lead on a Bruinsma layup and not let TIU back in the game.  TCC would score a couple more times ending the game victorious, 72-77.