TIGERS OUTLAST TRINITY INTERNATIONAL

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team improved to 2-0 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) upending the Trojans of Trinity International University, 93-83, inside McHie Arena on Wednesday night.

The Tigers started off the first half on a high note hitting 10 of the first 15 points highlighted by three-point baskets by freshman Landon Pflederer (FR/Tremont, Ill.) and senior John Contant (SR/Hickory Hills, Ill.). At 12-9, junior Christian Straw (JR/Bourbonnais, Ill.), junior Alex Gross (JR/Hope, Ind.), and sophomore Barik Olden (SO/Groveland, Ill.) all marked field goals as the Tigers took a 19-9 lead. After the Trojans cut the Tiger lead to two at 19-17, freshman Tyler Schmidt (FR/Valparaiso, Ind. ) made a layup to grow the lead back to four at 21-17. That Schmidt layup sparked an 8-0 run lead making the score 27-17.

At 27-21, the Tigers notched nine straight points, highlighted by a three by senior CJ Smith (SR/Cumming, Ga.) extending their lead to 36-21. The Tigers led by as much as 18 as they took a 49-37 lead going into the half. Schmidt led the Tigers with 10 points and junior Cade Chitty (JR/White Heath, Ill.) followed with 9 points. Gross led the Tigers with six boards.

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 49, Trinity International 37

The Trojans came out strong in the second half cutting the Tiger lead to eight until Chitty and Gross combined for five straight points moving the score to 54-41. After Contant made a layup, at 58-45, Brandon Lawani of TIU sparked a 7-0 run making the score 58-52. At 64-54, Schmidt tallied the next eight points for the Tigers making the score 70-61. With three minutes left, The Trojans cut the game to five at 84-79, however, Contant made three free throws to push the Tigers leads to 87-79.

The Tigers hit their last four free throws and held off a late comeback by the Trojans to win 93-83.

Game Vitals

Score: Olivet Nazarene 93 | Trinity International 83

Records: Olivet Nazarene 2-2 (2-0 CCAC) | Trinity International 2-1 (0-1 CCAC)

Location: McHie Arena | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

Quick Hits

• Schmidt led the Tigers, with a career-high 22 points, off the bench.
• Contant followed with 17 points.
• Gross contributed 15 points, while Chitty and Griggs rounded out the double-digit scoring with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
• Contant and Gross led the Tigers with nine rebounds, while Smith and Chitty followed with six.
• Contant led the Tigers with six assists.
• The Tigers outscored the Trojans on the bench 38-13.
• The Tigers outrebounded TIU 46-26.

What's Next?

The Tigers (2-2) (2-0 CCAC) welcome non-conference foe East-West University to McHie Arena on Saturday, January 9. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu