ELKINS, W.Va. – The Trevecca Nazarene University men's basketball (6-10, 2-0 G-MAC) defeated the Senators of Davis & Elkins College (6-10, 1-2 G-MAC), 88-82, in overtime at the McDonnell Center in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) contest.

The Trojans will attempt to win their first-ever game over the two-time defending G-MAC champion Alderson Broaddus University (10-5, 1-1 G-MAC) Battlers on Saturday at 3 PM in the Rex Pyles Arena. ABU is 5-0 all-time against the Trojans and are 3-0 versus the Trojans at Pyles Arena.

Trevecca took the lead in the all-time series, 3-2, with the Senators after winning their third in a row in the series on Thursday. The two teams will meet at the Trojan Fieldhouse on Feb. 20 at 4 PM.

Byron Sanford (SR/Louisville, KY), a G-MAC Player of the Year candidate, scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the year. Sanford ranks in the top 25 in double-doubles nationally. Matt Gamberoni (SR/Mulhouse, France) scored 15 points while Jalen Palm (SR/Louisville, KY) and Jacob Williams (SO/Lebanon, TN) each added 13 points.

Byron Sanford has scored 30 or more points twice in the last two games. He scored a season-high 32 in the first G-MAC game of the year at Cedarville. It is the seventh time this year that the guard has collected double-figure rebounds. His 13 rebounds equal a season-high and a career-high that he also reached against Maryville-St. Louis. His career-high in scoring is a 34-point effort against Cedarville last year.

Sanford is now averaging 19.38 points and 7.88 rebounds per game.

The Trojans, who share the first-place lead in the G-MAC with Kentucky Wesleyan College, used a 13-2 bench scoring advantage to lead 36-35 after a half of play. Trevecca also edged the host Senators 13-5 in points scored off of turnover. There were four lead changes in the first half and three ties.

D&E started with a 10-5 advantage. The host team lead by nine (22-13) with 10:10 left in the first half. Trevecca scored nine-straight for a 22-22 tie with 7:05 left in the half. After scoring the opening basket and taking a 2-0 lead, the Trojans did not lead again until Jalen Palm connected on a three-point basket with :28 left in the half, giving the Trojans a 36-35 lead at the break.

The Trojans built on their lead as the second half started with two more Palm three's and a pair of Matt Gamberoni free throws. Totaled with the Palm three to close the half, the Trojans used a 11-2 run to take a seven-point (44-37) lead with 18:19 to go in the game.

The Trojan lead was one (54-53) with 13:20 left in the game, but turned up the offensive and outscored the Senators 14-2 for a 13-point (68-55) lead with 8:03 to go. The Senators did not go away and tied the game at 68-68 with 3:06 left with a 13-0 run. It was the first time the Trojans did not hold the lead in the second half. The Trojans did not relinquish the lead in the second half and build a five-point (74-69) lead with :24 left in the game, but D&E closed the game with a five straight points, sending the game to overtime.

D&E took the lead for the first time since last in the first half with 2:53 left in overtime when Kevin Simpson trilled a three-pointer for a 77-76 lead. Simpson dropped in a pair of free throws with 2:01 to go for a 79-78 Senator lead. It was the last lead for the home team. Trevecca outscored Davis & Elkins 7-0 and led 84-79 with :17 left and took the win 88-82.

Trevecca hit 42% (28-66) from the field, 35% (12-34) from three-point range, and 72% (20-28) from the charity line. The Senators dominated the boards 44-36.

D&E edged the Trojans 39-38 in the second half, but TNU came on for a 14-8 edge in the game-deciding overtime period.

Jalen Palm dished out seven assists against zero turnovers, further bolstering his No. 4 ranking in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio. Sanford added four assists. Palm had two steals.

NATIONAL TELEVISION COMING TO THE FIELDHOUSE FEB. 6TH

On Feb. 6 the men's and women's basketball games between Cedarville University and Trevecca Nazarene University will air on the American Sports Network as part of the NCAA Division II Game of the Week package.

The men's and women's games between the Yellow Jackets and Trojans in Nashville, at the Trojans Fieldhouse in the Mark R. Moore Physical Education Center, will represent the G-MAC's first American Sports Network broadcast in any sport.

The women's game is set for 1 PM and the men's game will start after around 3 PM.