Men’s Basketball Takes On Host School   (3/19/08)
The Trolls posted a 79-74 victory over the host Oakland City University (IN) (18-11) in the consolation bracket of the NCCAA National Tournament. Trinity will compete in the 5^th place game on Thursday at 4:00 pm against Geneva College (PA).
 
The Trolls used a spurt midway through the second period to take a slight lead that they did not give up for the remaining minutes. That scoring run came after a half-time tie and trailing slightly in the first ten minutes of the second half.
 
In the first half of the game Trinity took the early lead. With seven left in the period they gave up that top spot and trailed the Mighty Oaks for the next six minutes. With a minute left they went ahead 36-33, only to have Oakland City tie it by the half, 36-36.
 
In the opening minutes of the second period the Trolls got in to foul trouble and fell behind by as many as six points. With just under nine minutes to play Ross Stuursma converted a three-point play that gave the team a 61-58 lead. Over the next five minutes the team made a run that put them ahead by eight points. Oakland City pulled to as close as three points with seven seconds left, but Kurt Gruppen hit two free throws to give the final five point victory.
 
For the game the Trolls were 44.4% accurate from the floor and 81.3% from the line. Ross Stuursma led the scoring with 22 points while Will Bruinsma had 21. Kurt Gruppen was also in double figures with 14. Stuursma and Brad Martin led the rebounding with seven each while Michael Thompson had five assists.

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