Triton College vs. Harper College

Coach Steve Christiansen was all smiles Tuesday night. Considering that the Harper Hawks swept the Trojans last year in conference play, it was more a smile of revenge for him as the Trojans capped off this season’s sweep of the Hawks with an 84-75 overtime victory in the Collins Center.

And it would have been a split series had it not been for sophomore C.C. Kilbert’s last second heroics in regulation. After a Robert Guillory three pointer to put the Hawks up 72-70 with 8.9 seconds left, Christiansen called a timeout. Kilbert got the inbounds and used a Chris Fuqua screen to sink a 17 foot pull up jumper to tie the game and send it into overtime.

“They executed that play just like I drew it up. [Kilbert’s] missed that shot a few times so far this season so it was nice to see him hit it,” said Christiansen of Kilbert, who has received attention from many DI schools. Kilbert would finish 17 points, while Fuqua led all Trojan scorers with 23 points.

In overtime Byron Wicks scored six of his ten points to put the game away.

The Trojans led at the half 43-36 despite giving up 17 points to freshman Mike Silungan. He went six of eight including five three point field goals in the first half. He finished with 26 on the evening.

“[Silungan] hit three the first time we played them, so we knew he could shoot. But I didn’t anticipate him doing what he did tonight. We were mainly concerned with Guillory.”

And for the first half they contained Guillory, who leads the conference in scoring, by holding him to only six points. However, Guillory led the Hawks, who were down by ten at one point, with 19 second half points including the three pointer to put them up 72-70 with 8.9 seconds left.

“This was a big win for us. We’re 5-1 now and in very good position to win this conference,” said Christiansen.

The Trojans will travel to Joliet Junior College, who they defeated 77-69 at home, on Saturday at 7PM.

Triton College vs. Moraine Valley

With the way the Triton Trojans handled the Moraine Valley Cyclones in the first half, Saturday, January 12^th in the Collins Center, it is shocking to note that they only lost by two points.

Plagued by poor shooting and foul trouble, the Trojans trailed by 14 at the half. However, a 19 point second half from Donald Brown sparked a terrific comeback that got a near empty Collins Center sounding more like a packed Cameron Stadium. Down 57-52, Brown scored five straight points to tie it up at 57. When the Cyclones took a 59-57 lead, it was Brown tying it right back up with two free throws and 3:09 left to go. A Brown trifecta would give the Trojans their first lead since early in the first half. He finished with 26 points.

“We have been real excited for Brown to start playing,” said head coach Steve Christiansen, noting that Brown didn’t play the first semester. “This is the same kid who had six straight 40 point games in high school, so we knew he could play. He gives us a great scorer from the perimeter.”

With Triton up 63-61, Mahmood Ghouleh scored on a drive to knot it up at 63 with 22 seconds remaining. However, after Moraine Valley called a timeout, a Fuqua turnover on the inbounds led to a Dominque King lay up to put Triton down 65-63. Larry Woods’ rebound on Triton’s ensuing possession forced the Trojans to foul with 3.7 seconds left in regulation. Woods sank both free throws and ended the Trojans comeback hopes. He ended the day with 20 points. C.C. Kilbert would score a meaningless lay-up at the buzzer to finalize the score 67-65.

The Trojans missed sophomore Anthony Johnson’s presence down the stretch. The 6’5” forward fouled out on a questionable call with 10:31 remaining. Thomas had picked up his fourth with 12:22 left but Christiansen elected to keep him in.

“I felt that if I pulled [Johnson] that I would be messing with the chemistry that I had on the court. I felt that since he has experience and knows the game well that he wouldn’t pick up his fifth. But obviously leaving him in backfired a bit.”

The first half ended up being the story for the Trojans. Both Johnson and Fuqua saw significant bench time with fouls. Fuqua picked up two quick fouls to start the game and when he finally came back with 4:01, it took him one minute and two seconds to get his third. With sophomore guard Mike Knight sitting out because of academic ineligibility, Moraine Valley played a 2-3 zone and the Trojans couldn’t take advantage of outside looks.

“Knight is definitely one of our better shooters and having him out hurt a bit,” said Christiansen.

Knight will miss the next three games.