Two Eagles topped 20 points, and another scored more than 10, but TBC Eagles Men's Basketball came up five points short in a South Region showdown with the Bruins of Bob Jones University on Saturday. Both teams shot over 50% in the first half, but the Bruins used the three-pointer well and a clutch free-throw shooting at the end to win a high-scoring contest 93-88.

Diego Fernandez and Ian Kanady were the stars of the first half, combining for 28 of TBC's 50. Fernandez scored 17 points in the first 20 minutes, including a pair of threes while Kanady totaled 11 in the period with a three of his own.

After the teams traded leads four times early on and BJU led 16-15, Trinity got points from DJ Thompson, Brandon Hill, Gavin Korth-Loder, Fernandez, and Kanady to forge a 15-4 run and slowly build a 29-20 lead with 8:39 left in the period. Bob Jones, though, then ran off 12 of the next 16 points to make it a 1-point game at 33-32 Trinity with 5:47 remaining.

The two offenses then totaled 34 points for the rest of the half; that span included two lead changes and a tie while the teams stayed within three points of each other for the duration.

Trinity led 50-49 at the break thanks in large part to 59% shooting from the field while Bob Jones shot 53%.

The Bruins took the lead 30 seconds into the second half on Brandon Wilkins's jumper, before Kanady claimed the lead right back at 52-51 just moments later.

The Bruins, though, then built a 14-point lead over the next 10:24 to go up 81-67. The Eagles stormed right back with a 17-3 run to tie it up at 84, but Shad Vander Hart soon after sank three free throws and a layup for Bob Jones.

Kanady drained a 30-foot three-pointer to make the score 91-88 with 31 seconds left, but BJU's Trevor Brunson made it a two-possession game with a pair of free throws when the clock read 0:06; those were the final points of the game.

Diego finished with 27 points, and Kanady totaled 21. Xavier Rose scored 12 while Hill and Jacquez Anderson each contributed 8 and Thompson and Ethan Bray both added 6.

BJU got a game high 28 points from Devin Pope (20 in the first half), who was 12 for 20 from the field with a pair of threes and 2 for 4 from the line. He and Hill each had 12 rebounds to lead their respective teams. Vander Hart and Wilkins each scored 15, and Brunson finished with 10 to help lead the Bruins, who sank 8 three-pointers overall as a team.

The Eagles have one home date remaining; they will host USCAA Trinity College of Florida at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 8. The remaining schedule has TBC visiting four NCCAA opponents: Bob Jones (February 13), Paine College (Feb. 15), Southeastern Baptist College (Feb. 21), and Pensacola Christian College (Feb. 22).