GARY, Ind. — IU Northwest men's basketball opened the night with strong energy inside the Savannah Center, but a decisive second-half push by Trinity Christian proved to be the difference as the RedHawks fell, 73–64, Wednesday evening in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action.
IU Northwest came out sharp on the offensive end, moving the ball efficiently and attacking the paint to build early momentum. Caleb Jenkins set the tone offensively, scoring from mid-range and getting downhill to help the RedHawks take a 35–27 lead into halftime. IU Northwest shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half and controlled the tempo by limiting second-chance opportunities.
Trinity Christian responded after the break, tightening defensively and finding rhythm from the perimeter. The visitors opened the second half with a scoring run to swing momentum and slowly build separation. IU Northwest continued to compete, with Matthew Hoarde providing a spark off the bench by attacking the rim and finishing through contact, while Romello Ali knocked down a pair of timely three-pointers to keep the RedHawks within reach.
Despite continued effort, Trinity Christian maintained control down the stretch, capitalizing on perimeter shooting and efficient half-court execution. IU Northwest looked to answer behind interior touches from Amarion Johnson and ball movement from Trey Steinhilber, but the RedHawks were unable to fully close the gap in the final minutes.
IU Northwest was led by Caleb Jenkins, who finished with 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding eight rebounds. Matthew Hoarde added 17 points off the bench while shooting 7-of-12 from the field, and Romello Ali scored 10 points, connecting on two three-pointers. Amarion Johnson contributed seven points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while Antonio Phillips added five points and six rebounds. Trey Steinhilber finished with five points, four rebounds, and four assists, tying him for No. 8 in program history for single-season assists (96).
IU Northwest returns to the road on Saturday, Feb. 14, traveling to Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Ind., with tipoff scheduled for 12 p.m. CDT.
