Palos Heights, Ill. -- The Indiana UTniversity Northwest men's basketball team struggled on the road today as the RedHawks suffered a setback against Trinity Christian in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest Saturday. The Trolls (8-14, 4-11 CCAC) defeated the RedHawks (13-11, 9-7 CCAC), 93-88, in overtime, Saturday. 

TCC led 14-6 in the first three minutes of the contest. IUN bounced back with six points in a row to make it a two-point game (14-12) after a basket by Rashad Richardson (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jeff) and a three-pointer by Jason Peace (Indianapolis, Ind.). 

Moments later, Jamisen Smith (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) gave IUN a quick 16-15 lead with 12:53 in the half.  TCC sparked a 10-2 run the next four minutes to go up 25-18. 

IUN crawled back into the game after a Marshaud Watkins (Harvey, Ill.) three-pointer and a layup by Martellian Gibson (Rantoul, Ill.) made it 37-35 Trinity Christian with 2:11 remaining in the half. The Trolls pulled away once more scoring nine unanswered the next two minutes before Smith hit a jump shot to end the half with TCC leading 46-40.

Tromon Weston (St. Louis, Mo.) gave IUN a 64-63 lead with 10:32 left in the game with his layup. Both teams went to back-and-forth the next six minutes before TCC pulled away for an 79-73 advantage with 4:15 remaining in the contest.

The RedHawks scored seven in a row after back-to-back layups by Gibson and Richardson to make it tied at 79-all. After TCC took the lead with 41 seconds left, Gibson came back and tied it (81-81) to force overtime with a layup.

TCC took advantage in the overtime period going up 89-83 with 1:41 left in the overtime period. Richardson kept IUN in the game after a trifecta made it 92-88 with 46 seconds left.

That was the closest IUN got the rest of the way. The Trolls split a pair of free throws later on but went on to capture a 93-88 victory.

IUN had three players reach double figures including a double-double. Watkins scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Gibson led the RedHawks in scoring on the night as the junior scored 27 points. Richardson had a big game as well for IUN as the senior scored 20 points.

IUN returns to action Wednesday, February 5 as the RedHawks travel to Whiting, Indiana to take on Calumet College. Game time with the Crimson Wave is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.