Diego Fernandez had a massive first half that helped TBC build a lead, and the defense stepped up several times late to fend off multiple comeback efforts as TBC Eagles Men's Basketball defeated the Tigers from Trinity College of Florida 86-81 in Tuesday night's South Region competition.

After TCFL won the tip off, DJ Thompson scored the game's first basket only 40 seconds in to give Trinity Baptist a 2-0 lead, and the Eagles never lost that lead. Fernandez, Brandon Hill, Xavier Rose, Thompson, and Jacquez Anderson all scored during a run that gave Trinity a 19-10 lead at the 13:56 mark of the half. Anderson's three-pointer was the first of three long-range baskets, and his other two both came at good times as the Tigers began to pull close.

[Jacquez Anderson made three clutch three-pointers in Tuesday's win.]

Fernandez scored 18 of his game-high 28 points in the first half, and he helped the Eagles to their first 17-point lead. Jace Spinelli and Zach Kiadii also had some late first-half baskets to fend off the first of TCFL's comeback bids. The Tigers got as close as 5 at 43-38 with 1:10 left in the half before Anderson buried his second three-pointer of the night. The Eagles led at halftime 46-38.

DJ Nunnery of the Tigers caught fire in the second half and twice helped his team trim 17-point deficits down to 3. Nunnery scored 15 of his 21 total points in the second half, and he got help from Jaden Jenkins, who scored 15 of his 24 in the same period; the two came alive together to keep the Tigers in the game. Malik Gordon also hit double figures with 11 points. 

After falling behind 59-46 with 14:05 left to play, TCFL pulled to within 3 at 68-65 over the next seven minutes, but the Eagles defense kept the Tigers from tying the score. Each time TBC started to pull away from there, TCFL would run the deficit back to three (70-67, 78-75, 80-77, 82-79).

In the final 2:00, Fernandez made five consecutive free throws, and Gavin Korth-Loder sealed the win with one of his own with 2 ticks left.

Fernandez was 12 for 14 at the line, and the Eagles as a team were 23 for 33; Spinelli and Hill combined for 8 of 9 successful foul shots. They also shot 46% from the field and totaled 9 three-pointers (Fernandez 4, Anderson 3, Spinelli 2).

Spinelli totaled a season high 18 points, and Hill finished with 10. Rose and Anderson each had 9, Thompson scored 7, Kiaddi and Ian Kanady had 2 apiece, and Korth-Loder added 1 critical point.

[Jace Spinelli scored a season-high 18 points in TBC's South Region win.]

The Eagles have two games remaining in the regular season, and both are at home against South Region teams. On Thursday, TBC faces Johnson University of Florida at 8:00 p.m. following the women's game with JUFL. On Saturday, the regular season concludes with a 4:00 p.m. contest against Southeastern Baptist College.