Posted: Mar 21, 2021
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- University of St. Thomas went on a 17-2 run late in the second half to turn a nail-bitter into a convincing 80-66 victory over Trinity University in Sunday afternoon's title game of the 2021 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament at Calgaard Gymnasium on the campus of Trinity. Official Tournament Website | Post-game interview w/ St. Thomas head coach Anthony Medina | Post-game interview w/ Tournament MVP Juan Hood | Photos
After a layup by Trinity's Kaleb Jenkins cut the UST lead to 61-60 with 6:24 remaining, Cameron Gims and Freddie Ricks combined for five three point field goals on the Celts' next seven possessions and the Tigers were never able to get any closer than the final margin.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- St. Thomas led 36-35 at the break as Juan Hood had 20 of his game-high 24 in the opening period, sinking 6 of 9 from beyond the three-point line.
- The game was tied three times and the lead exchanged hands three times in the opening period. The back-and-forth nature extended well into the second half with final charted totals of seven ties and seven lead changes for the contest.
- The game was still a nip and tuck affair well into the second half and Trinity took what would be its last lead at 57-55 after a bucket by AJ Clark and a made free throw by Tanner Brown.
- Cameron Gims and Christian Alaekwe both had 15 points in the second half as the Celts shot 60.0 percent (15-25) in the second period.
- The Celts made 13 three-pointers in the game - tying for the second-most they've made in a single contest this season.
- After struggling from the field in their first two tournament games (39.7 percent versus Dallas and 34.4 percent versus Centenary), UST sank 47.5 percent from the floor in Sunday's title game.
ST. THOMAS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Juan Hood: 24 points, five rebounds, four assists
- Christian Alaekwe: 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks
- Cameron Gims: 18 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, four steals
- Adam Kanafani: 6 points, seven rebounds
TRINITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Enzo Sechi: 17 points, three rebounds
- A.J. Clark: 9 points, 13 rebounds
- Tanner Brown: 8 points, five rebounds
- Ben Hanley: 8 points, five rebounds
NOTABLES
- St. Thomas' Juan Hood was named the Tournament MVP. Joining Hood on the All-Tournament Team were teammates Christian Alaekwe and Cameron Gims. Trinity's A.J. Clark and Enzo Sechi also earned All-Tournament nods as did Austin College's Michael Holland.
- St. Thomas becomes the just the second conference school to win a conference tournament title in its first appearance in the event. Trinity won the first-ever SCAC men's tournament (in the modern era) in 2003.
- The Celts have won a piece of the SCAC men's championship each of if its first two years in the league. UST won the regular season title last season in its first year participating in the conference.
- Teams making their first appearance in the title game are now 5-8 following the Celts victory on Sunday.
- St. Thomas head coach Anthony Medina is the ninth coach to lead his team to a tournament title after earning SCAC Coach-of-the-Year. Medina shared COTY honors this year with Trinity head coach Jimmy Smith.
- Trinity is just the third school to play for the SCAC men's basketball championship on its home floor and the first to do it twice. The Tigers hosted and won the 2014 SCAC title on its home floor as did the TLU men in 2019.
- St. Thomas ends the season with an 11-4 overall mark while Trinity falls to 10-2.
