NASHVILLE – In the mid-1980s, Paul Westhead popularized a college basketball offense he called, "The System." It was predicated on running an offense at a tempo designed to wear out the opponent. While the specifics may not have been the same, that kind of a show came to the Hill on Saturday night.
Trevecca (0-0) blitzed the Wright State University-Lake Lakers (0-1) from the opening tip-off in an exhibition game on Homecoming Weekend. The Trojans won the game 142-50, and the offensive explosion marked the largest offensive output from a Trevecca team in more than half a century.
Trevecca has only put up more points in a game one time - on Valentines Day in 1970, when they beat John Wesley College (N.C.) on the road 157-61. Prior to Saturday night, the Trojans had only eclipsed the 130-point barrier two other times - a 135-56 win over Piedmont College (Ga.) on November 15, 1985 and a 134-108 victory over Jimmy Swaggart Bible College on November 21, 1989. As noted, though, those were countable contests. Saturday's game, as an exhibition, is not a countable record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trevecca applied pressure early, and that pressure helped ignite the Trojans offense right away. Trevecca forced three turnovers in the first four minutes and turned them into six points, as the Trojans started the game on a 19-6 run before the first media timeout. The Trojans coupled the relentless pressure with sharp shooting and complete control on the glass as well. Trevecca made 14 of their first 20 shots, and they grabbed 12 of the game's first 13 rebounds as they built a 30-10 lead at the second media timeout. Wave after wave of Trevecca defenders forced Wright State-Lake into uncomfortable positions, and at the half, the Trojans enjoyed a 75-25 lead.
The second half saw the Trojans go deep into the bench, and the pace stayed high. The Trojans got points from 14 different players, and they created nearly 40 more possessions than they allowed the Lakers. Trevecca ran away with the win, 142-50.
THE TEAM
Trevecca made 59 of 94 (62.8%) shots in the game, including 15 of 37 (40.5%) from beyond the arc. The one area where the Trojans struggled to shoot was at the foul line, where they were 9-for-18 (50%). Trevecca out-rebounded the Lakers 59-19, and they forced 31 turnovers which turned into 50 points. Trevecca scored 80 points off the bench, 88 points in the paint, 29 points on the fast break, and 27 points on second chances.
THE PLAYERS
A whopping nine Trojans scored in double figures in the game.
Justin Bass led the way with 21 tallies that included four made 3-point shots. Jeremy Jackson, Jr. scored 15 and added 12 rebounds for the double double,
Jett Montgomery scored 14 in only 16 minutes,
D'Shay Knights Wright tallied a dozen,
Fred Bailey and
Eli Williams each added 11, and
Shahar Lazar,
Ben Groth, and
Tyler Moore chipped in 10 apiece.Bailey handed out six assists, Bailey and
Josh Hamilton each notched three steals; and Bass, Groth, and
Cooper Jordan each had a block.
UP NEXT
Trevecca will start their season for real on November 13-14 when they head south to Daytona Beach, Florida. The Trojans will take part in the Bahama House Shootout at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as they take on the Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish (0-0) on Friday at Noon, before they battle the tournament host ERAU Eagles (0-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m.
