PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – It had been a long time since the DeVos Gymnasium had so many fans – due to COVID restrictions last season – and the atmosphere on Saturday, Oct. 30 when the Trinity Christian College men's basketball team took the court to kick off the 2021-22 season was indescribable. Down three at the half, Coach Jason Hawkins worked his halftime magic, and the Trolls came out of the break reenergized, as Braxton Barnhizer hit a three to tie the game just seconds into the period. Trinity would take and keep the lead with just under four minutes left to come away with an 85-82 win. James Pennington led the Trolls with 30 points and nine rebounds.

THE BASICS
Score: Trinity Christian – 85 |East West University – 82   
Location: DeVos Gymnasium | Palos Heights, Illinois  
Records: Trinity Christian (1-0) | East West (0-3)

BY THE NUMBERS

• James Pennington: Team-leading 30 points (9-of-10, FG; 11-of-11, FT), team-high nine rebounds, two steals
• Brady Loerep: 15 points (7-of-12, FG)
• Erik Cohn: 14 points (5-of-9, FG; 3-of-4, FT)
• Braxton Barnhizer: 11 points (3-of-9, FG; 4-of-6, FT), seven rebounds, team leading nine assists, two steals
• Myles Johnson: 10 points (5-of-13, FG; 3-of-4, FT), six rebounds

WHAT'S NEXT

Trinity will open Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, Nov. on the road at Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.). Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the CSU Fieldhouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.