The Trolls claim the CCAC Championship title with a 56-53 victory over Cardinal Stritch University in the conference tournament final. Trinity wins the tournament after defeating both Judson University and Cardinal Stritch, the two teams they tied with for first place in the regular season standings. The victory advances the Trolls to the 18^th Annual NAIA National Tournament held at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri on March 11-17.

 In a game in which defensive pressure reigned at both ends of the court, disciple at the free throw line became key. While both teams shot well from the charity stripe, the Trolls hit 14-of-16 of their attempts and were dependable in crucial situations.

The game was all a championship game should be as the teams battled through the entire forty minutes of play. In the first half the lead changed hands 11 times and the largest scoring margin by either team was three points. The Trolls grabbed a slight lead at 23-20 with 6:32 to play, but scored only two more points in the rest of the half. However their defense ruled as Stritch scored only six points in the final eight minutes of the period. At the intermission the Wolves had a one point advantage at 26-25.

 On two free throws by Alex Rusticus in the opening seconds of the second period, Trinity took the lead. From that point on they did not relinquish it; although Stritch tied it up three times. In a game where every basket counted, the Trolls posted a 5-0 run on a jumper and three-pointer by Will Bruinsma to go ahead 38-32 with 14:28 to play. Shortly following, another four unanswered points gave the Trolls their largest margin of the game at 42-35.

 After a 7-0 run led by Stritch's Kody Braddix, who scored 11 of his game-high 15 points in the second period, the score was tied at 42-42 at the midway point of the period. The Wolves kept it close with their second chance efforts that resulted in 12 offensive boards. The Trolls gained the advantage again and on a jumper by Kurt Gruppen with 3:28 to play were up by five, 52-47. The Wolves rallied off the next five points to once again deadlock the game at 53-53.

 In the final minute of the game the Trolls got the job done at the free throw line. Will Bruinsma hit two free throws with 38.5 seconds left to make it 55-53. Stritch came up empty on their possession and fouled Jonathan Huizinga on the following rebound. Huizinga went to the line and sunk one more throw to make it a three-point game with 18.6 seconds left. In the closing seconds the Wolves got off a three-point attempt that fell short, but scrambled with two more hurried tries before the buzzer sounded.

 The Trolls ended up shooting 87.5% from the line and 38.5% from the floor. They hit just 2-of-12 three-point attempts. They held the Wolves to 32.8% from the field for the game, including a 27.3% in the second half. Trinity was able to hold Cardinal Stritch to under 30 points in each half. Will Bruinsma led the team with 19 points and Jonathan Huizinga had 12. Alex Rusticus had six rebounds while Kurt Gruppen and Matt Buren each had five.

 Overall Cardinal Stritch made five three-pointer for the evening with Kody Braddix claiming three. The Wolves were 8-of-10 from the line. The Wolves had three players in double figure scoring with Braddix with 15, Trey Triplett with 14, and Pat Barron with 10. Triplett and Milutin Marjacic each had eight rebounds.

The Trollls advance to the 32-team national tournament on March 11-17. The seeding and pairings for the National Tournament will be released on March 5.