The Tigers have yet to win a conference game after two close losses last weekend and one during the week, including a double-overtime loss.
Friday, Jan. 16, they lost 74-69 against Southwestern University.
They trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, but cut the lead to 36-35 within the final minute of the half.
In the second half they were again down by double-digits before cutting into the lead as the game drew to an end, but were unable to close the gap and come away with a win.
“I think one thing we always seem to do”¦every single game we get ourselves in a hole. Like maybe a double-digit””eight-point hole””and we always have to climb back,” said sophomore guard Joseph Thomas. “We always lose by a deficit that we go down in in the early parts of the game.”
First-year guard Brian Blum scored a career-high 20 points in the loss. He was 6-11 from the field and 4-7 from behind the arc. Sophomore forward AJ Pulliam and Thomas also scored double-digits for the Tigers with 13 and 10 respectively.
Saturday the Tigers lost 90-84 in an epic double-overtime battle against the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs.
“They had to shoot really well to beat us, which is what teams have to do. I thought one or two bounces the other way it could’ve been a different result,” said assistant coach Ross Burt.
At halftime the Tigers held a 34-28 lead with help from senior guard Matt Selling who erupted for 11 first-half points.The second half began with a 9-3 Trinity run to open up a 10 point lead, but the game was far from over. Pulliam sunk a pair of free throws in the last seconds of regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime.
In the first overtime the Tigers scored six quick points, but again a shot by Pulliam was needed in the final seconds to tie the game. First-year guard Matt Jones had a three-point shot to win the game at the buzzer but it did not fall.
In the final overtime period the Tigers were outscored 7-1 which sealed the victory for TLU.
“I think we did what we needed to do to win that game, but they just played better ball after the end of the period,” Pulliam said.
Tuesday, Jan. 20, they lost in a blowout game 81-66 against Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas.
The Tigers have lost their last six games and now hold a record of 1-15, and a 0-5 mark in conference play.
“We have proven we can do it. Our record is not showing that at the moment. We just need to find that way to consistently win those games that we have had””the close ones,” Burt said.
Their lone win of the season came during the winter break on Saturday, Dec. 20, at home against the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute. They pulled out a close 65-61 victory.
“That last game against TLU was a good step forward for our team,” Pulliam said. “That game set the tone for how we should play the rest of the season.”
The Tigers continue conference play with a game against Centenary College at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 and against Colorado College at 8 p.m. Saturday Jan 24. Both games are at home.
