The Trinity Bible College Lions Men’s basketball team took the last two home games of the regular season to honor their two seniors. On Friday night the Lions hosted the Crossroad College Knights and before the game honored senior Alan Usher. The Lions presented Alan Usher with a flower for him to give to his mom, who made the trip all the way from California and was in attendance and then presented Alan with a framed jersey. The Lions then went to work as they needed to win both Friday and Saturday night’s game to clinch the #1 seed in NIAC Conference regular season.   

                The Lions would jump out to a 5 to 4 lead early in the game but the Crossroads College Knights would then battle to an 8 to 14 lead over the Lions with 10 ½ minutes left in the first half. Just two minutes later the Lions would take the lead back 15 to 14 and would not relinquish it again. They would hold just a seven point halftime lead 35 to 28 over the Knights. In the second half the Lions would use an 11 to 2 run to start out the first four minutes taking a 16 point lead, the biggest lead of the game 46 to 30. The Knight would continue to battle and would eventual close the Lions lead to just 5 points with only three minutes to play, but the Lions senior Alan Usher would hit a corner three pointer to give the Lions an eight point lead. They would hold on to win by 11 points, 84 to 73. The Lions were led by freshman forward Barry Bighorn with a game high 24 points (10 of 18 from the field), he added 10 rebounds for his first career double double and 5 steals. Joining Barry in double figures was junior Mikey Rosario with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, sophomore guard AJ Anthony added 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals and senior Alan Usher added 10 points and 8 rebounds.

                On Saturday the Lions looked to beat Crossroads College again and with a win the Lions would secure the NIAC Conference regular season. Before the game the Lions honored senior JD Pratt, with a flower for his wife Kiah and a framed jersey for JD. The Lions would have to work from behind in the first half of Saturday’s game as the Knights would jump out early on the Lions taking an 8 to 16 lead six minutes into the game. The Lions would use a 16 to 10 run to tie the game at 26 all with six minutes left in the first half. Once the Lions got their lead on Saturday they kept it, taking a 40 to 30 lead into halftime. The Lions used a 24 to 10 run in the first seven minutes in the second half to put the Knights away. They would out score Crossroads College 55 to 36 in the second half, winning by 29, 95 to 66. The Lions were again led by freshman Barry Bighorn, who had 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Senior JD Pratt added 14 points on 4 of 5 on three’s ,  junior guard Michael Rohrbach added a spark off the bench with 12 points and 6 rebounds (4 offensive) and sophomore AJ Anthony had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

                The two wins move the Lions to 12 – 16 on the year and they are now done with regular season games. They won the NIAC Conference regular season and will be the #1 seed for the NIAC Conference Tournament this week, which they will be hosting here in Ellendale, ND. The Lions will be playing the winner of the #4 seed Turtle Mountain Community College vs. #5 seed Association Free Lutheran Bible School on this Friday, February 17^th at 8pm.