LACROSSE, Wis., and PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. — Trinity Christian men's basketball split a pair of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference games this week, falling to Viterbo 83-65 on Wednesday, Jan. 14, before defeating Calumet College 92-63 on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Viterbo 83, Trinity Christian 65 (Jan. 14)
Viterbo jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the contest after hitting three straight 3-pointers. TCC looked to get back into the game after scoring four straight points to make it 9-4. Moments later, the Trolls cut the deficit to 14-10 following a basket by Wandy Ortiz.
The Hawks put together a 12-2 run over the next four minutes, extending their lead to 26-12 with 8:32 remaining in the first half. Viterbo grabbed its largest lead of the night after pushing the advantage to 40-17.
Ognjen Petkovic helped Trinity Christian get back on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer to make it 40-20, but the V-Hawks extended the margin to 50-26 by halftime.
TCC opened the second half with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 52-34. Viterbo quickly responded with 10 straight points to regain control and extend the lead to 62-34 with 13:13 to play.
The V-Hawks stretched the advantage to 30 points, 76-46, with 8:44 remaining. The Trolls closed the final 3:35 with eight consecutive points as Aiden Cilladi, Brandon Adorno and Garrett Greene each scored.
Petkovic and Greene led Trinity Christian with 11 points apiece.
Trinity Christian 92, Calumet College 63 (Jan. 17)
Trinity Christian jumped out to an early 10-4 lead as Adorno knocked down a layup and a 3-pointer. Calumet College responded with a 7-2 run to cut the margin to one point with 14:43 to play in the first half.
Adorno followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Trolls an 18-11 lead. Moments later, Munoz extended the advantage to 30-20 after scoring five straight points.
CCSJ answered with a basket before Trinity Christian went on an eight-point run to take a 38-22 lead. The Trolls carried a 46-32 advantage into halftime after a basket by Cilladi.
The Crimson Wave opened the second half with a basket, but TCC answered with three straight scores to build a 17-point lead. Greene sparked another run with a layup before Tylan Harris knocked down a 3-pointer, capping an 8-1 stretch that pushed the lead to 74-46.
Trinity Christian maintained control the rest of the way, earning a 92-63 victory.
Adorno led the way with 28 points on 9-13 shooting and 5-6 from three-point land. Greene recorded a double-double after scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while Cilladi flirted with a triple-double recording 15 points, 10 rebounds and dishing out seven assists.
The split moves Trinity Christian to 9-9 overall and 6-4 in CCAC play.
Up Next
Trinity Christian hosts Olivet Nazarene on Wednesday, Jan. 21, for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Tigers before traveling to Joliet, Illinois, to face the Fighting Saints on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 3 p.m. CT.
