Men’s Basketball Stumbles at Judson   (1/26/08)
In a battle for the top spot in the CCAC standings the Trolls came up short with a 67-78 loss at Judson University (13-6, 5-0). The defeat ended a five game winning streak and came after a week in which they received votes in the NAIA national ratings. The team is now 12-9 overall and 4-1 in the CCAC.
 
A 3-13 start to the game set the tone as the Trolls spent the entire 40 minutes fighting from behind. They fell behind by as many as 11 points and were as close as one point in the half. At the intermission they were behind by eight points, 31-39.
 
In the second period the team continued to fight, but could not get the momentum they needed to take the lead. Multiple times they came to within two points, but each time Judson answered and increased the gap.
 
With 2:46 to play a lay-up by Ross Stuursma followed by two free throws by Jonathan Huizinga completed a six point stretch that put the Trolls to within two points, 65-67. However Judson finished the game out with an 11-2 run that included hitting seven of ten free throws.
 
The team shot 45.3% for the game, but allowed Judson to be 52.5% accurate. Trinity was also only 59.1% from the line and turned the ball over 19 times. Kurt Gruppen led the team with 20 points and three assists. Ross Stuursma added 13 points and six rebounds. Ebiowei Porbeni was the high rebounder with seven while Michael Thompson has six assists and nine points.
 
The Trolls play next in a conference game at Calumet College of St. Joseph (IN) on January 30 at 7:00 pm.
 

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