Clutch free throws at the end secured the win, and the team led for all but a short time early on as TBC Eagles Men's Basketball earned a hard-fought South Region win over the rivaled Eagles of Pensacola Christian College on Tuesday. TBC had a lead in 38 of the 40 minutes played and fended off a late PCC comeback effort to win 74-66.

With Pensacola closing in, Diego Fernandez sank all four foul shots in the final 62 seconds to maintain and extend a small lead. DJ Thompson also came up big at the line with a pair of free throws to extend a six-point lead into a three-possession margin with 1:09 left to play. Overall, the two converted 16 of 20 free throws combined and totaled 29 points (Fernandez 20, Thompson 9).

TBC was 22 for 28 (77%) from the line and shot 46% from the field with three-pointers coming from Fernandez and Jacquez Anderson.

Trinity scored first thanks to Brandon Hill's layup, and the teams traded baskets for the next few possessions. PCC's Paul Stickles gave his team its only lead at 5-4 just 1:45 into the game; that lead lasted 1:28 until Thompson's jumper put TBC ahead for good at 6-5. Trinity never trailed again.

Trinity gradually built their lead to 12 at the half by getting point contributions from most players on the court, led by Fernandez (12) and Hill (10). PCC got to within two several times approaching the midway point until TBC pulled away with layups and free throws. Trinity led 39-27 at the break.

[Ja'Maryus Pringle ignites the team and the crowd with a slam dunk during pre-game warmups.]

Pensacola, though, chipped away throughout the second half and constantly trimmed double-digit deficits down to as little as four. Each time, though, TBC would reextend and never relinquish the lead. Their biggest lead was 14 late, but Pensacola inched closer and closer to forge a 66-62 tally with 1:45 left to play.

Hill totaled 17 points on a 7-for-10 performance from the field and three free throws. Ian Kanady scored 10 overall, and Xavier Rose matched Thompson's 9. Anderson finished with 7 while Ethan Bray and Jace Spinelli each added 1 important free throw.

[Xavier Rose leads the offense up the court with his teammates looking on.]

Pensacola Christian got a game high 23 points from Kaiden Peck (16 in the second half) and double digits from Liam Gerdtz (14), Brandtely Koske (10), and Stephen Fike (10). They shot 44% from the field, hit 9 three-pointers, and sank 15 of 20 foul shots.

Trinity Baptist will host another South Region contest at home vs. Southeastern Baptist College at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18. A trip to USCAA Trinity College of Florida follows on January 21 before the final two home games against Bob Jones University and Trinity College of Florida occur on February 1 and 8, respectively.