Each team had a man top 30 points, and both teams shot exceptionally well -- especially in the second half -- but TCJ Eagles Men's Basketball came up short to the Banyans of NAIA New College of Florida on Tuesday. The Eagles shot 41% from the field overall, but New College shot 47% and took more shots in winning 104-87.

Diego Fernandez notched his third 30-point game of the season, totalling 31. Fernandez was 10 for 22 from the field, including 3 of 8 in three-pointers. He also sank 8 of 10 foul shots and assisted 4 other scores. 

Alex Dawson heated up in the second half, nailing three three-pointers as part of his 14 total points, which is a new season high in official games. The other 5 all came at the line (5 of 6), where the Eagles as a team converted 23 of 38 attempts, including 9 of 13 in the first half.

Dawson's two foul shots broke a 6-6 tie, and the Eagles built that lead to 6 at 20-14 midway through the first half. New College, however, forged an 18-1 run to surge ahead 32-21 with 4:04 left in the half. Trinity got as close as 6, but they would not get any closer. New College led 41-32 at the break.

The teams combined for 118 points in the second half (63-55 NCF), which equals many college final scores. Trinity shot 45% in the second half, but New College hit 54% of their shots, including 8 three-pointers, in the same frame. Digeo Eslava hit 6 of 8 threes in just the second half and 1 of 4 in the first to get 21 of his 37 total points for the Banyans. 

Trinity got 8 points each from Maximus Fuentes and Sherrard Adams, 7 from Jayden Little, 5 each from DJ Thompson and Brandon Hill, a 3-pointer from Derek Rivers, and 2 each from Tayden Owens, Shadrack Kakora, and Davion Fitzgerald. 

Colby Chapman (16) and Shawn Lafrense (10) helped lead the Banyans, and 8 more contributed between 2 and 9 points.

The Eagles will play five road games to close out the first semester of play. First, Trinity plays exhibitions at NCAA Division 2 Embry Riddle University and NCAA Division 1 Jacksonville University on December 3 and 11, respectively. Official games follow at NAIA Morris College on December 16 and NCCAA Division 1 Clinton College on December 17. The final game of 2025 is an exhibition at NCAA Division 1 Florida International University on December 22.