LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Coming off a historic win in Hunstville on Thursday, the Trevecca Nazarene University men's basketball team hit the road again on Saturday for a game at the University of West Alabama. The Trojans were hoping to hand the Tigers their first GSC loss of the season, but the Trojans' effort came up just short.
Trevecca (6-3, 2-2 GSC) trailed by as many as 18 in the game, but they mounted a furious rally late. Ultimately, the Tigers (8-1, 4-0 GSC) held off the rally and took the win 78-70.
HOW IT HAPPENED
West Alabama opened the game on an 8-0 run, but Trevecca answered. The Trojans scored 11 of the next 14 points, and with 15:45 to go in the opening half, Brett Wright buried a 3-pointer on the fast break to tie the game at 11. Trevecca remained close over the next seven minutes, but late in the opening stanza, the Tigers took control with a 12-2 run, and at the half, UWA led 46-28.
The teams traded baskets for the first four minutes of the second half, but Trevecca mounted an 11-0 run to get back in the game. Jax Abernathy ignited the run when he connected from deep with 14:27 to go in the game, and over the next 3:26, Abernathy, Fred Bailey, and Brett Wright each connected from the floor as the Trojans cut the deficit to 54-48.
UWA answered with an 8-0 run, but as the game wound down, Trevecca battled their way back. Back-to-back layups from Jeremy Jackson, Jr. pulled Trevecca within nine. With 3:14 to play, Justin Bass scored on the fast break to get the Trojans within seven, and Abernathy came up with a steal with 50 seconds to play and took it in for a layup to cut the deficit to 72-70. Unfortunately for the Trojans, that was as close as they got, as UWA closed the game on a 6-0 run to take the 78-70 win.
THE TEAM
Trevecca made 25 of 59 (43.1%) shots in the game, and they were 10-for-28 (35.7%) from long range. At the foul line, the Trojans made 10 of 14 (71.4%) attempts. Each team grabbed 33 rebounds, and Trevecca outscored UWA 39-10 off the bench, 23-13 off turnovers, and 14-9 on the fast break.
THE PLAYERS
Four Trojans scored in double figures, and for the second straight game, Jax Abernathy led the way. He tallied 18 points, and he was joined in double digits by Brett Wright (17), Fred Bailey (12), and Jeremy Jackson, Jr. (12). Jackson Jr. led the way with 10 boards which gave him his first double-double of the season, and Bailey dished out a season-high eight assists. Abernathy added five assists, and Jackson, Jr. picked up three steals.
UP NEXT
Trevecca will return home to close out the first semester portion of the GSC schedule next week. The Trojans will host the Blazers of Valdosta State University (6-3, 1-2 GSC) on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., and they will welcome the University of West Florida Argonauts (8-3, 1-2 GSC) to the Trojan Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
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