SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Playing an SCAC tournament game at home for the first time since 2021, second-seeded Trinity University advanced to the program's 10th title game appearance with a 67-54 semifinal round victory over third-seeded Centenary College Saturday night at the 2023 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament. Official Tournament Website | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview | Men's Tournament Stats
Trinity (20-6) advances to tomorrow's SCAC Championship game where the Tigers will play fifth-seeded Schreiner University (14-13), who upset the top-seed and 12th-ranked University of St. Thomas in the first men's semifinal earlier this evening. Trinity jumped out to a 42-24 halftime lead before the Tigers saw the Gents cut the lead to 53-46 with 7:21 to play in the game. Trinity, however, scored 13 of the game's next 15 points, pulling away to an 18-point lead with a little over a minute remaining.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams shot under 40.0 percent for the game. Centenary connected at a 37.2 percent (19-of-51) clip while Trinity made 38.6 percent (22-of-57) from the floor.
- The Tigers shot a blistering 45.8 percent (11-of-24) from beyond the arc compared to the Gents' 26.9 percent shooting (7-of-26) from long range.
- Trinity forced 20 turnovers and translated that into a 26-2 edge in points off of turnovers.
- The game featured three ties and two lead changes.
- Both Trinity and Centenary were nearly equal in their rebounding as the Tigers held a slim 38-36 edge on the glass.
- Tanner Brown: 16 points, nine rebounds, 6-of-14 FG
- Jacob Harvety: 15 points, 5-of-12 FG, one rebound, one assist, one steal
- Kaleb Jenkins: 15 points, six rebounds, four steals, two assists
- Seth Thomas: 17 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, two steals
- Jalen Behr: 14 points, four rebounds, 6-of-12 FG
- Tyke Singleton: 10 points, six rebounds
- Trinity advances to the program's third straight and tenth overall appearance in the SCAC championship game.
- In their previous nine title game appearances, the Tigers hold a mark of 6-3.
- In 21 years of SCAC touranament play, Trinity is attempting to become just the third men's team to win the conference tournament on its home floor. Trinity won the championship in 2014 - the last time the entire tournament was hosted in San Antonio - and Texas Lutheran took home the tournament title on its home floor in 2019.
- Trinity and Centenary split its two regular season meetings with each team winning on their homecourt.
- Centenary ends its season with an 18-9 record.
Trinity (20-6) advances to Sunday's championship game where fifth-seeded Schreiner awaits the Tigers. Tip for tomorrow's title game is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. Trinity is seeking its conference record seventh tournament title and first since 2014 while Schreiner is trying to win its second tournament championship and first since 2018.
