PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Trevecca Nazarene University Men's Basketball team (8-4, 3-3 GSC) ended the year on a high note with a dominant second-half performance, defeating the University of West Florida (2-9, 1-4 GSC) by a score of 79-65.
THE SERIES
This game marked the first-ever meeting between Trevecca and West Florida in men's basketball, with the Trojans earning the initial win to lead the series 1-0.
BREAKING IT DOWN
As has been the case throughout their early Gulf South Conference schedule, the Trojans began the game locked in a tightly contested battle. Neither team could find much separation in the opening 20 minutes.
Trevecca looked slightly sharper out of the gate, but the Argos, however, kept pace, refusing to let the Trojans pull away.
With the clock winding down in the first half,
Mateo Esmeraldo found
Jalen Page cutting to the basket for a powerful dunk, giving Trevecca a narrow 36-34 advantage heading into the break.
The second half told a completely different story. The Trojans exploded out of the locker room, embarking on a game-defining 25-10 run over the first eight minutes.
Over that stretch, Trevecca outscored West Florida 25-10. During the run, the Trojans shot an outstanding 10-12 from the field, including 4-5 from beyond the arc, while also converting a free throw and forcing two steals. Leading the charge was
Jalen Page, who went on a personal tear, scoring 15 of the Trojans' 25 points during the sequence.
Defensively, the Trojans stifled any attempt by the Argos to mount a counterattack. West Florida shot just 4-11 from the floor during this stretch, with only one three-pointer to show for their efforts. The Argos also committed three turnovers during the run, with the Trojans capitalizing to extend their lead further.
This dominant stretch set the tone for the remainder of the game. Despite the Argos' best efforts to chip away at the deficit, the Trojans never allowed the lead to dip below 10 points. With their offense continuing to click and their defense holding firm, Trevecca sealed the game comfortably, closing out 2024 with a 79-65 win.
KEY PLAYERS
Jalen Page dominated the game with 27 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. His scoring spree in the second half was instrumental in sealing the win.
Jikari Johnson contributed 16 points and 6 rebounds.
NaVuan Peterson delivered an all-around performance with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.
Mateo Esmeraldo efficiently facilitated the offense, finishing with 11 points and a team-high 8 assists.
THE TEAM
Trevecca shot 52.8% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, a testament to their offensive efficiency. The Trojans capitalized on their ability to move the ball, finishing with 16 assists while making the best of off turnovers, outscoring West Florida 15-13 in that category. Defensively, the Trojans forced 10 turnovers and held the Argos to just 27.3% shooting from three-point range.
UP NEXT
This win wraps up the Trojans' 2024 schedule. Trevecca will return to action in the new year when they travel to face Lee University (4-6, 0-6 GSC) on January 4 at 3:00 PM.
