From University of Chicago Athletics
The University of Chicago men's basketball team put on a Sunday shooting clinic, draining a game-high 16 3-pointers – nine of them by senior Jake Fenlon – en route to a 79-67 nonleague victory over Trinity (Tex.) on the final day of the Midway Classic.
The Maroons (2-0) won their second game in as many days after defeating Rose-Hulman 89-76 in Saturday's home opener.
Fenlon poured in a career-high 31 points on 10-of-24 shooting, including 9-of-20 from downtown, but the guard had just nine points in a first half that saw the Maroons struggle from the field.
UChicago made just 10-of-43 (23.3 percent) from the field compared to 10-of-27 (37 percent) by Trinity, but the Maroons maintained a 35-27 lead at the break thanks to a 35-18 rebounding advantage, which included 20 offensive boards. Junior Justin Jackson grabbed all seven of his rebounds in the first 20 minutes to lead the way.
The second half proved to be a different story, as Fenlon came out of the gate with a four-point play, draining the triple and the free-throw after getting fouled on the play. Teammate Noah Karras followed him with a three-ball of his own to push the lead to 10, 42-32.
The next four UChicago baskets would be Maroon treys – three straight by Fenlon and another by Jake Berhorst (eight points), who hit from deep with 13:23 left to make it 57-39 Maroons. UChicago would earn its largest lead just three minutes later with 10:55 to play, when two Jackson free throws made it a 19-point advantage at 61-42.
With Trinity trying to cut the lead back to single digits, Fenlon would go on to hit two more 3s and the Maroons – led by Karras' 5-of-6 effort – would hit 6-of-9 free throws down the stretch to hold off any comeback.
Karras finished with 11 points, Jordan Baum added nine points and six boards and senior Collin Barthel chipped in nine points and nine rebounds in a near double-double.
The Maroons finished the game 20-of-67 (29.9 percent) from the field compared to 41.4 percent (24-of-58) for the Tigers, but dominated the boards for the game, 53-35. UChicago held Trinity to just four makes (4-of-12) from downtown and scored 24 second-chance points compared to just 10 for the Tigers.
Jayden Holden led Trinity with 19 points and Danny Rivara added 10 in the setback.