NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off of an eight-day layoff, the Trevecca Nazarene University men's basketball team (5-16, 5-14 Great Midwest) took to the hardwood at the Trojan Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the regular season against the Ohio Valley University Scots (4-14, 4-14 Great Midwest). Trevecca led for much of the afternoon, but a late 13-0 run from the Scots helped OVU come from behind and take the win, putting the Trojans in jeopardy of missing the postseason.

GAME ESSENTIALS G-MAC MBK | Standings | Statistics | Championship Central | G-MAC Scores | Records | Weekly Awards

SERIES HISTORY/NOTES 

The game was the 16th matchup all-time for the Trojans and the Fighting Scots, and it may have been the final meeting between the two as conference opponents, as OVU has applied for membership into the NAIA for next season. Even with the loss, the Trojans hold the series lead 12-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game took on a nip-and-tuck feel from the beginning, as neither team held a lead larger than three points until Trevecca's Adam Webb scored a layup with 9:15 to play in the first half that gave the Trojans the 16-11 lead. The game remained close for much of the rest of the first half, but with 5:06 to play, Austin Wills buried a 3-pointer to give TNU a 25-23 advantage, and that ignited a 9-2 Trevecca run that culminated in the Trojans taking a 31-25 lead. OVU, though, fought back, and at intermission, the Trojans' lead was just one point at 31-30.

Trevecca scored the first six points of the second half, and a pair of Brayden Jackson free throws gave TNU a 37-30 lead with just 1:18 elapsed in the frame. Wills scored again with 17:15 remaining in the game to push the Trojans' lead to 10 at 42-32, but the Trojans were unable to put the game away. Trevecca suffered through several long scoring droughts in the second stanza, but they held the lead until the 6:20 mark when OVU surged in front on a bucket from Keon Claiborne that gave the Scots the 55-54 lead. OVU outscored the Trojans 16-2 in a span of 7:24 during which Trevecca scored only a pair of free throws late in the second half, and Trevecca was unable to recover, as OVU took the win 76-70.

PLAYER STATS BREAKDOWN

Wills led the Trojans with 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting including 7-for-15 from long distance. Brendan Newton (12) and Imani Starling (11) also scored in double-figures for Trevecca, Newton grabbed a team-best nine rebounds, and Starling dished out seven assists. Claiborne led all scorers in the game with a 33-point effort for the Scots, and he and teammate Parker Black each posted double-doubles. 

TEAM STATS BREAKDOWN

Trevecca made more shots from the floor (27-69 / 39.1%) and from long range (9-29 / 31.0%) than did Ohio Valley, but the Scots were excellent at the foul line, making 22-of-27 (81.5%) attempts as a team. OVU also controlled the glass, out-rebounding Trevecca 42-36.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Trojans must now await their postseason fate as only the top eight teams in standings make the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament. The standings are being determined by the G-MAC's Points Rating System, where the Trojans sat seventh as of Feb. 25. The tournament dates are March 2, 5, 6; and the qualifiers and bracket will be released on Sunday evening by the conference office.

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS

Visit Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com

Click for Live Stats / Live Video of home games

Follow on Social Media - Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Photos | Free Newsletter

#ChristianScholarAthlete