WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Trevecca Nazarene University men's basketball team (1-1) found their rhythm against Embry-Riddle (1-1) on Sunday afternoon, securing a hard-fought 91-85 victory.
THE SERIES
This game marked the first-ever meeting between Trevecca Nazarene and Embry-Riddle in men's basketball.
BREAKING IT DOWN
The first half saw both teams trading buckets, but the Trojans eventually pulled ahead, capitalizing on key stops and efficient offense.
Jikari Johnson led the charge early, torching the Embry-Riddle defense for 20 first-half points.
Trevecca controlled the tempo and stretched their lead to as much as 13 before heading into halftime up 47-38.
In the second half, Embry-Riddle came out firing, erasing the deficit with a combination of strong interior play and timely shooting. The Eagles briefly took the lead at 12:59, their first lead since being up 10-9 in the first half.
However,
Jalen Page took over in the clutch, scoring 14 of his 27 points in the final seven minutes. His sharpshooting and aggressive drives to the basket helped the Trojans weather the storm and secure a 91-85 win.
KEY PLAYERS
Jikari Johnson put on a show, scoring a team-high 29 points on 10-17 shooting, including 4-7 from beyond the arc. Johnson also added 6 rebounds and a steal, providing a crucial offensive spark.
Jalen Page followed closely, contributing 27 points on an impressive 10-20 shooting and knocking down 6-13 from three. He also recorded 4 rebounds and 1 assist, especially shining in the final minutes to help seal the win.
Spencer White came off the bench to deliver 14 points on 5-8 shooting, 4-7 from 3-point land, adding 2 rebounds.
Mateo Esmeraldo led the team in rebounds and assists grabbing 7 boards and dishing out 11 assists, also adding 6 points.
THE TEAM
Trevecca shot 47.8% from the field, including an impressive 44.1% from beyond the arc, connecting on 15 of their 34 three-point attempts. The team also made the most of their trips to the free-throw line, shooting 85.7%. Despite being outrebounded 40-30, the Trojans forced Embry-Riddle into seven turnovers and capitalized on transition opportunities with 23 fast break points.
UP NEXT
The Trojans return to Trojan Fieldhouse on Monday for their home opener against Welch College (0-5) at 7:00 p.m. They'll also face Shorter University on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., looking to build on their strong performance in Florida.
