Men's Basketball

March 5, 2005

Trinity on to Sweet 16 With Win Over Pomona

Trinity (24-6) led 36-15 at halftime after holding the visitors to just 5-21 (23.8%) shooting in the first 20 minutes. 

The Tigers opened up a lead early (12-5), but the Sagehens scored five straight to keep it close at 12-10 after just over eight minutes of play.  Trinity then went on a tear, running off 18 of the next 20 points, and pulling ahead by 18 (30-12) with 4:47 to go until halftime.  Trinity held Pomona to just one field goal over a stretch of more than 12 minutes in the first half.

Pomona came out smoking hot in the second half, though, knocking in four three-pointers in the first four minutes and going on a 20-6 run to cut the 21-point lead down to just seven with 11:31 to play in the game. 

Trinity held off the Sagehens and never led by less than seven until 1:47 to play when Pomona hit another three - its ninth of the second half - to make it a 57-51 game.  Trinity then made its next two shots while Pomona missed a field goal and the front end of a 1-and-1, and the lead ballooned to 10 points with 39 seconds left.  The Tigers hit two more free throws for the final score, and the Sagehens missed their final five shots as Trinity pulled away for the win.

Peter Murray led all players with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.  Murray tied his career high with 20 points, and established his season high with 10 boards.  Murray hit 6-15 field goals and 7-7 free throws in the game.

Andy Bates finished with 14 points on 5-9 shooting, grabbing five boards and dishing out three assists.  Sean Devins had 11 points and five rebounds to go with two blocked shots. 

Jason Morris and Chad Stroberg chipped in with eight points each, while Morris had four assists and Stroberg finished with five rebounds.

Kamau Norman Terrance led Pomona with 16 points, hitting 5-13 shots and pulling in six rebounds.  Norman Terrance hit 4-9 three-pointers to lead the team. 

Pomona hit 10-23 three-pointers in the game, including 9-17 (52.9%) in the second half, but hit just 7-30 (23.3%) from inside the arc.  Trinity shot 42.6% (23-54) in the game and 16-20 (80.0%) from the foul line.

Trinity advances to the NCAA Sectionals next weekend, and will travel to UW-Stevens Point for the two-day event.  The Tigers will face Hanover (IN) College on Friday, after Hanover upset No. 2 seed Illinois Wesleyan.