News Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For just the second time in the past ten years, the Northwestern College men’s basketball team won the Coca-Cola Classic Tournament, defeating Trinity International University in the championship contest on account of a 72-69 final score. With the win, the Eagles remained undefeated at 2-0 on the year, while the visiting Trojans of Trinity International fell to 5-3 this season with the loss. The only other Coca-Cola Tournament title for Northwestern came in the 1998-1999 season.

Against Trinity International, Northwestern slowly pushed their way to a 24-13 lead midway through the first half. The Trojans continued to hang with the Eagles and closed to within 6 points at 35-29 as both teams headed to the locker room at the break. Both teams shot 44% from the floor in the first twenty minutes of play as Northwestern connected on 12-of-27 field goal attempts and Trinity International was successful on 11-of-25 attempts.

The Eagles upped their advantage to 10 points twice in the early stages of the second half, before the Trojans came storming back to tie the game at 58 with 6:24 left in the game. Trinity International momentarily took the lead but Northwestern fought back and built a 69-65 lead with just over a minute remaining. From there, the closest the Trojans were able to get was 70-69, but two successful free throw shots by Joseph Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood HS) put the Eagles in control 72-69 as Trinity International turned the ball over on the final possession to insure the win for Northwestern.

Northwestern shot a scorching 59.1% from the floor in the second half, and finished the game connecting on 25-of-49 (51.0%) field goal attempts. The Eagles put down 16-of-23 (69.6%) free throw attempts as well. Trinity International found their shooting touch in the second half as well, finishing the game hitting 27-of-50 (54.0%) shot attempts from the floor.

Eagle standout Josh Strelecki (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park HS) poured in 21 points, also adding 3 assists and 4 steals. Strelecki was named the Coca-Cola Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) as he hit 8-of-13 field goal attempts. Daniel Hanson (Plymouth, Minn./Maranatha Academy) added 13 points and 7 rebounds, collecting all-tournament honors. Trinity International University was paced by junior Josh Edmon (Joliet, Ill.), who contributed a game-high 24 points and 8 rebounds, hitting 10-of-15 shots from the floor. Bobby Brown (San Antonio, Texas) chipped in 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Both Trojan players earned all-tournament recognition.

Northwestern College is now 1-2 all-time against Trinity International University. Taking a few days off, The Eagles will travel down Snelling Avenue for a pair of games next week, including a Tuesday affair at Macalester College at 5:30 p.m. and a Saturday showdown at Hamline University at 3:00 pm.