Triton finishes tough November with win over Malcolm X

A difficult stretch of travel and playing a nine-game stretch in 19 days for the Triton College men's basketball team ended with what would appear to be rather easy 87-51 home victory Nov. 19 against Malcolm X College.

The Trojans finished the grueling schedule with a 6-3 record and after a top-10 preseason ranking; Triton goes into the Thanksgiving break No. 18 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll released Nov. 21.

Triton's three losses were all against NJCAA DI ranked opponents: No. 9 Hutchinson, No. 15 Moberly Area and No. 16 John A. Logan.

Despite the victory over the Hawks, head coach John Clancy knows his squad needs to play better if the 2022-23 version of the Trojans plan to duplicate the Final Four run from a year ago.

"We've been on the road a lot to start the season," Clancy said. "But that's what you need to do in order to be considered an elite junior college program. Right now, the way we're playing is not good enough. I give our guys credit for the way they got through these games. But we need to get tougher and play with sense of urgency. That is what Triton basketball is built on."

Triton got off to a slow start as Malcolm X stayed close from most of the opening half. The Trojans only led 21-15 with six minutes to go before halftime.

However, Triton would finish the half on a 17-2 run to take a 37-17 advantage into the intermission sparked by Leontae Lilly (7 points), who saw his first action of the season after deciding to waive his redshirt status. The freshman guard from Orr got a steal and layup to jumpstart the Trojans.

Then the Trojans completed the half with consecutive three's from Devon Barnes. Ethan Pickett and Brandon Muntu followed by each connecting from long range themselves.

Barnes would lead Triton in scoring with 18 points and seven assists. Muntu finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Pickett added 15 points and seven rebounds. BJ Marable was also in double-figures with 13 points for the Trojans.

Triton will have a two-week break between games and are not back in action until Saturday, Dec. 3 when they host Truman College at the Collins Center.

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