San Antonio - Trinity's men's basketball team opened its final home weekend of the regular season with an 88-63 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Hendrix College on Friday night.
The win, which was Trinity's largest margin of victory this season, extends the team's winning streak to five games, and improves the team's record to 14-8. It also puts the Tigers into a tie for the top spot in the SCAC West Division, sporting a 9-4 conference mark.
Trinity held a 34-28 halftime lead, despite the fact that both teams shot an equal 40% from the field in the opening period. The Tigers made two more free throws and two more field goals, and the Warriors were also helped by a three-point basket in the closing seconds.
Neither team led by more than five points until the final two minutes of the period, as Trinity scored eight unanswered to push the lead to nine - just prior to Hendrix's last-second three.
Hendrix shot even better in the second half, connecting on 14-28 (50%) from the field; however, Trinity would not be outdone, hitting 21-35 (60%) in the final 20 minutes of action.
In the second half, the Warriors got to within two points after just over three minutes had elapsed, but Trinity never gave up the lead. After pushing the lead back to seven, Trinity then exploded with a 20-0 run that put the game out of reach - despite 8:42 remaining on the clock.
Zach Lambert led Trinity with 27 points in 27 minutes, posting a new team season-high. Lambert connected on 11-16 from the field, 2-3 from three-point range, and 2-3 free throws.
Robert Kitzinger also scored 20 points for the Tigers, hitting 7-14 overall, and 4-4 from beyond the arc. Jonathan Wilt led the team with six rebounds, while Ryan Beall led Trinity with six assists and four steals - despite playing just 16 minutes.
Ammon Martin, Colton Primm, and Nick Heathscott scored 12 points each to lead Hendrix, and Heathscott also led the game with seven rebounds.
Trinity will take on Colorado College in the final home game of the year on Sunday afternoon. Colorado was beaten by Southwestern tonight, and trails Trinity and Austin College by two games for the division lead.