SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Trinity University held off a game Austin College squad, ultimately needing a 14-1 run over a five minute span late in the second half to pull away for an 80-68 victory in 2021 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal play Sunday afternoon at Calgaard Gymnasium on the campus of Trinity. The victory earns the top-seeded Tigers a trip to next weekend's title game where they will host second-seeded St. Thomas. Official Tournament Website
Austin College took its biggest lead of the game at 37-34 with 16:01 remaining but Trinty went on a 9-2 run over the next two minutes, capped by a three-pointer from Tanner Brown, to lead 46-39 and the Tigers never trailed again. The 'Roos did fight back, and actually possessed the ball on three separate occasions inside the seven minute mark with chances to tie or take the lead - the last time coming at the 4:18 mark with the score at 62-59 - but turnovers and missed shots down the stretch proved to be more than Austin College could overcome.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Fast break points catapulted Trinity to the early lead as the Tigers' scored 14 of their 33 first half points off the break.
- Neither team could hit from distance in the opening stanza as the two teams combined to make just 2 of 16 (12.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Austin College was 1 for 5 and Trinity made 1 of 11 attempts.
- Trinity's depth played a huge role in the final outcome as the Tigers outscored Austin College, 36-6, off the bench.
- Trinity also maintained advantages in points off turnovers (26-15) and fast break points (20-8).
- Trinity's ability to convert at the charity stripe was another key stat as both teams hit 26 field goals. Trinity sank 22 of 29 free throw attempts (75.9 percent) while Austin College managed to make just 12 of 22 (54.5 percent).
- Tanner Brown: 18 points four rebounds, three steals
- Enzo Sechi: 13 points, eight rebounds
- Jalen White: 13 points, four rebounds, two steals
- Kaleb Jenkins: 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals
- AJ Clark: 7 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, one block
- Michael Holland: 22 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks
- Tristan Dick: 16 points, four rebounds, two blocks
- Jason Jones Jr.: 10 points, nine rebounds, two blocks
- Jaylyn Cleamons: 9 points, two rebounds
- In what may have been his final collegiate game (all winter sports student-athletes have been granted a season of competition waiver this year by the NCAA), Austin College's Michael Holland had 22 points to finish with 1,206 career points - good for a tie for 67th all-time in the SCAC record book. That is the second-highest total for any AC player since the institution joined the conference prior to the 2006-07 season.
- With the Tigers set to host the title game on its home floor next weekend, Trinity becomes just the third school to play for the SCAC men's basketball championship on its home floor and the first to do it twice. The Tigers hosted and won the 2014 SCAC title on its home floor as did the TLU men in 2019.
- Austin College ends its season with a 5-6 record. In its last five SCAC postseason appearances, the 'Roos have been eliminated in the semifinal round four times.
- This will be Trinity's eighth overall SCAC title game appearance and first since the aforementioned 2014 championship. Since the SCAC reinstated the conference tournament in 2003, only Centre College has played in as many tournament finals as Trinity. The Texas Tigers are 6-1 in its seven previous title game appearances.
Trinity (10-1) advances to take on St. Thomas (10-4) in next weekend's men's tournament final. The two split their regular season series, which took place at St. Thomas on the opening weekend of the season. St. Thomas defeated Trinity 61-53 on Feb. 15 and Trinity bounced back to the the 77-73 victory on Feb. 16. Next weekend's men's championship game date and time will be announced by Monday.
