The Trinity Bible College Lions traveled to Mayville, ND Tuesday night to face off against NAIA opponent Mayville State University Comets. The Lions played the Comets twice last season losing both games. The Lions went into the game ready to make an upset over the NAIA school.

            The Lions came out fast and intense scoring first on a Barry Bighorn (Culbertson, MT) drive to the basket and lay- up. They then would answer a Comet three pointer with one of their own to take an early 5 to 3 lead just two minutes into the contest. The opening minutes were a fight with both teams trying to figure out one another, with Mayville taking the lead back with 15 minutes to play in the first half 8 to 7 over the Lions. The two teams would continue to trade the lead with the Lions taking their biggest lead of the first half with13 minutes to play 14 to 10 over the Comets. The lead would change hands a total of nine times in the first half. With five minutes to play in the first half the Lions were on top 21 to 20, but the Comets would string together a 7 to 2 run to take the lead back with 3 minutes left 27 to 23. The Lions would execute a nicely drawn up play and Mikey Rosario (Fort Worth, TX) would hit the jumper as time expired in the first half cutting the Comets lead going into halftime to just 3 points 34 to 31.

            The Lions came out in the second half just as intense as the first and would strike first again cutting the lead back down to one point just one minute into the second half, but the Comets would respond. Mayville would then tighten its defense and go on a 6 – 0 run over the next three minutes to take a 40 to 33 lead over the Lions with 16 minutes to play in the contest. The Lions answered back with a with 8 to 2 run of their own to close the Comets lead to one point again 42 to 41 with 13 minutes to play. The second half was about runs and who could put together a better run. The Comets did just that over the next 7 minutes of the game stringing together an 18 to 9 run to take their biggest lead of the game 60 to 50 over the Lions with just over 6 minutes to play. The Lions fought hard to close the ten point gap and used a 10 to 1 run to do so to come within 1 point 60 to 61 with 3 minutes left in the game. Mayville would pull away again and take a 6 point advantage 68 to 62 with a minute left. With a minute left the Lions would do all they could do but they could not get any close than 4 points away 66 to 70 with 27 seconds left and after Mayville hit some free throws the Comets out lasted the Lions 74 to 68.

            In the loss the Lions were led by sophomore Barry Bighorn who led all scorers with 17 points on 7 of 13 shooting. Junior AJ Anthony (Memphis, TN) added 14 points to go with his 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, while senior Mikey Rosario pitched in 13 points and 4 rebounds. Sophomore Nick Lentz (Onida, SD) led all rebounders with 10 total boards. The Lions had 11 offensive rebounds in the game and forced 21 Comet turnovers.

            The loss moves the Lions to 2-2 on the season with 3 more games this week. Thursday, November 15^th at 8pm at home for their first home game of the season against Dakota State University, Saturday, November 17^th  at 4pm and Sunday, November 18^th at 6pm both games to be played at North Dakota State College of Sciences in Wahpeton, ND.

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