DJ Thompson and Diego Fernandez came up clutch at the line in the final minute, the team sank 13 three-poiiinters overall, and Fernandez scored 32 points as TCJ Eagles Men's Basketball held on for a 94-90 win in an exciting contest with the South Region's newest member. Trinity hosted the Eagles of Baptist University of Florida, and the two teams put on a shooting display. Baptist nearly came back from a 19-point deficit, but the foul line proved vital for TCJ in the end.

With 59 seconds left and Trinity leading 90-83, Thompson hit a free throw to make it an 8-point lead. Baptist's Jo'el King (2 free throws) and CJ McKinley (layup) scored the next four points to bring their team to within 4 at 91-87. Fernandez drew a foul with 35 seconds left an sank both shots. Another foul shot for King made it a 5-point deficit, but Fernadez went right back to the line and hit one to make the score 94-88 with 21 seconds left. Baptist's Kalleal Jones got a rebound off a missed three-point attempt and laid the ball in as time expired for the game's final points. 

Baptist started their comeback effort after Thompson's layup made the score 66-47. Oliver Pratt, Jordan Isaac, and McKinley combined for 8 consecutive free throws as part of a 27-13 run that brought them to within 5 at 79-74 then got a dunk from David Pina to make it a three-point margin. Baptist, though, would not get any closer. 

Fernandez and Tayden Owens helped Trinity rebuild the lead to 7 at 90-83 with 59 second left before Thompsonm went to the line.

In two terrific scoring lines -- one for each team -- Trinity was 13 for 29 (45%) from beyond the arc and Baptist was 26 for 33 (79%) from the line. 

The 13 three-pointers came on 4 from Fernandez, 3 from Alex Dawson, 2 each from Sherrard Adams and Maximus Fuentes, and 1 each from Owens and Jayden Little. 

TCJ never trailed, and the only tie was at 9-9 after Trinity jumped out to a 9-2 lead. Dawson started the scoring with his three three-pointers. Fuentes hit all three foul shots to break the 9-9 tie. Trinity then finished the first half outscoring Baptist 38-34 to take a 50-43 advantage into halftime. Baptist's Omari Henry hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cut the deficit from 10 to 7 going into the break.

Fernandez's 32 points came on 10 of 17 total makes from the field and 10 of 15 from the line. He scored 13 points in the first half and 19 in the second. Owens totaled 15 points, and Dawson added two more baskets to finish with 13 points. Fuentes and Little each totaled 9, Adams tallied 6, and Thompson and Brandon Hill each contributed 5. 

King led Baptist with 22 points, including 6 for 9 at the line. Four teammates -- Jones (13), Jordan Isaac (12), Pina (10), and McKinley (10) -- all hit double figures, and five more scored points. 

TCJ will host NJCAA Florida Gateway College at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. Two road games follow at USCAA Beacon College on November 17 and NCAA Division 2 Flagler College on November 18. The final game before Thanksgiving break is at home the University of Fort Lauderdale on November 20.