Box Score Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Feb. 24, 2012) – The Sewanee men's basketball team fell just short of an upset bid, as the Tigers dropped a close, 60-53, contest against Trinity (TX) Friday during quarterfinal action of the 2012 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
With the loss, inside Bill Battle Coliseum in Birmingham, Ala., the Tigers end their season with an even 13-13 overall record. Additionally, seniors Trent Williams and Sam Martin each played their final game as a Tiger. With the win, Trinity moves into Saturday's semifinals where the Tigers wait the winner of the Rhodes/Colorado College matchup.
Early on, neither team led by more than six points the entire first half. With Trinity up three, 33-30, at the intermission, the Tigers extended their advantage early in the second. After Ryan Beall converted a pair of free throws to push Trinity's lead to 11, 45-34, Sewanee responded.
A three by junior Brett Bouldin and three straight free throws cut the deficit to five, 45-40, with 9:18 left. After two quick buckets by Trinity, Williams showed his senior leadership with a layup and a three to pull Sewanee to within three, 48-45, with 6:36 remaining.
Each team then traded scores before Health Hopson put Trinity up five, 52-47, with 4:50 to go. However, Trinity's momentum was short lived when junior Lewis Affronti hit a three on the next Tiger possession.
Unfortunately, down the stretch, Sewanee missed 10 shots, which gave Trinity the opportunity to hold its lead. After Bouldin pulled the Tigers to within three, 56-53, with 48 seconds left, Trinity hit all four of its free throws, which nailed down the win.
In a game that featured the top two defensives in the SCAC, neither team shot the ball well. Sewanee finished 19-of-55 (34.5 percent) while Trinity hit 21-of-59 attempts (35.6 percent).
Individually, Bouldin and junior Tyler Brown led Sewanee with 11 points each. Affronti finished with 10 points while Williams added nine in his final contest.
Zach Lambert, who finished with a game-high 15 points, led Trinity. Kitzinger was the only other Tiger in double figures with 10 points.
As a team, Sewanee had an outstanding season. The Tigers earned their most wins since the 1997-98 team finished 20-8. In addition to making its first SCAC Tournament appearance since 2009, Sewanee closed 2011-12 with an impressive 11-2 mark inside Juhan Gymnasium. Finally, the Tigers earned their first wins over Trinity (Jan. 4, 2012) and Centre (Jan. 7, 2012) since the 2004 and 2005 campaigns.
For more information on Sewanee athletics, please visit www.SewaneeTigers.com.
