[LeeCoUKFan]

Trinity takes out Southwestern

No. 1 Trinity is headed to the Sweet Sixteen championship game after beating Southwestern 56-47 in Saturday morning’s semifinals in Rupp Arena.

The Shamrocks had a tough time pulling away from Southwestern. They led by only four (41-37) with 6 minutes left. But Nathan Dieudonne sparked an 8-0 run with a dunk. Troy Saxton followed with a three-pointer, and Charles Foster had an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 49-37 with 3:30 left.

Trinity was then content to work the clock and Southwestern was forced to foul the rest of the way.

Trinity won its 17th game in a row and improved its record to 34-3.

Southwestern was led by 6-foot-4, 270-pound senior Rob Lewis, who had 14 points, including a three at the buzzer. David Kapinga had 13 points and 5 assists. Justin Edwards added 7 points and 9 rebounds.

Dieudonne led the Rocks with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Foster had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Saxton had 8 points, Darryl Hicks had 8 points, and James Quick added 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.