No. 21 Seward County defeats Trinidad State 81-77

By: Kenny Hernandez

TRINIDAD, Col. - Seward County Community College defeats Trinidad State College 81-77 on the road as the Saints improve to 2-0 on the year. The No. 21 Saints fended pick up the road win in their first road test of the season, and they fended off a late Trojans surge in Trinidad, Colorado. Seward County will be back in action Thursday, November 10th at 8 p.m. to take on Western Nebraska Community College in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. 

In his starting role, Mario Whitley led the Saints with 18 points and seven rebounds. Wilson Dubinsky, and Daeyon James added 13 points, and Jaylin Henderson had 11 points of his own in the contest.

Both teams struggled to establish their offense early in the contest, as the Saints had a 5-3 lead with 16 minutes left in the first half. The Saints held the lead in the low-scoring affair, 13-7, halfway through the opening half. After a pair of free throws by Fontaine Williams, Seward County had their largest lead of the game, 19-7, at the seven-minute mark. The Trojans responded with a 10-1 run to cut the Saints' lead down to a one-procession game of 20-17. After a transition lay-up by the Trojans in the final minute, the Saints went into halftime with a 33-27 advantage on the road. 

To start the second half, the Trojans took their first contest lead at 41-40 over the Saints with 15:20 on the game clock. The Saints regained the lead with a layup by David Petit at 42-41 as both teams traded off baskets in the second half. Sophomore Jaylin Henderson connected on a three-pointer to give the Saints a 55-52 advantage with 9:41 left in the contest. The Saints took a five-point lead, 66-61, over the Trojans after a three-pointer by Wilson Dubinsky. With 2:44 left, the Trojans' Dejour Reeves connected on a three to tie to game at 68-68, and the home crowd ramped up the volume in the gymnasium.

The Saints kept calm and collected and responded with an 8-1 run to lead 76-69 in the final minute and a half. Trinidad State made one last push against Seward County as they went on their own 8-2 run to cut the Saints' lead down to 78-77 with under twenty seconds left. Seward County was able to seal the game from the free throw line as they went on to win 81-77 on their first road game. 

The Saints will travel to Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, to take on Western Nebraska Community College at 8 p.m. on Thursday.