In the first of three exhibition games against an NCAA Division 1 opponent, TBC Eagles Men's Basketball outshot Jacksonville University percentagewise. The Eagles rallied in the final minutes to finish at 41.1% to JU's 39.7. TBC also got double-digit point totals from three mainstays in a game that stayed close most of the way. JU won 78-65.

Xavier Rose began the season with 864 career points and inched a little closer to 900 by sinking 6 field goals and 1 free throw to compile 13 points, which led the Eagles. 

[Xavier Rose is closing on on 900 career points.]

Rose could surpass 1,000 career points this season.

Diego Fernandez and Jacquez Anderson each scored 10 points but in different ways. Fernandez sank a three-pointer for his first score then had 2 more field goals and a 3-for-4 performance at the line whereas Anderson buried a pair of threes and two deuces for his 10.

The Eagles kept the score within 11 points for the entire first half and had the lead at three different points early on. After JU scored 7 consecutive points late in the half, the teams traded baskets until Jacksonville went up 32-21. Ian Kanady then nailed a three-pointer with 1:43 left for the half's final score for the Eagles. JU hit a basket, TBC trailed by 10 at 34-24. Kanady totaled 9 points on the night.

After the break, Trinity scored 41 points by shooting 54.7% in the second half to Jacksonville's 45.5%. In the final four minutes, freshman Josh Bledsoe converted both three-point attempts for his first collegiate baskets, and those two shots put Trinity ahead in shooting percentage for the game.

[Josh Bledsoe sank his first two college three-point attempts.]

Bledsoe finished with 6 points.

Trinity hit 8 three-pointers overall, including 5 of 11 in the second half.

Ethan Bray hit a three as part of his 5 points while Shadrack Kakora also hit a 3-pointer. Jace Spinelli and Jack Peeler each scored 2, and DJ Thompson added 1.

JU's Stephon Paine led all scorers with 18 points, Zach Bell totaled 11, and Robert McCray finished with 9 to lead the Dolphins.

The Eagles will play their first official game on Saturday when they host NAIA New College of Florida at 4:00 p.m. following the women's game against the same school. TBC will then face Clinton College on November 11 before facing their second D-1 opponent, Mercer University, on November 13.