Triton sweeps home classic

 
Dayjaun Anderson and Vijay Wallace had clutch second-half performances, respectively, in powering the Triton College men's basketball team to victories over McCook Community College and John A. Logan College at the Triton Classic Nov. 15 and 16 at the Jordnt Athletic Complex gymnasium.

Anderson's three-pointer, steal and layup in quick succession gave the Trojans some breathing room with three minutes to go in the 79-72 victory over McCook Nov. 15. Anderson tallied a game-high 22 points, including five three-pointers.

Meanwhile, Wallace registered a game-high 25 points on 11-for-18 shooting while pulling down 10 rebounds in an 84-62 victory over Logan on Nov. 16. He was assisted by Anderson with 18 points and clutch second-half plays by Chase Coleman and center Brandon Sinclair in hiking the tenth-ranked Trojans' record to 4-1.

The full team efforts led by Anderson and Wallace were needed to fend off the determined visitors.

McCook, which trailed early in the second half 57-43, cut the deficit to 64-63 with 3:30 to go before Anderson's well-timed burst. Logan cut a 13-point halftime deficit to seven five minutes later, making Triton work for its second win in 20 hours.

Anderson's early-season performance is putting the former Dayton, Ohio prep star on track for national NJCAA recognition.

"He's one of the best guards in the country," said Triton coach Brian Burns. "We'll trust him to score and get the ball."

Behind Anderson, Burns has recruited offensive depth of the kind he enjoyed last season when the Trojans made their second Division I Final Four in three years.

Wallace scored 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting against McCook. Coming off the bench, Coleman had 10 points against McCook and 11 against Logan. Sinclair had 12 against Logan.

Running the offense is point guard Kaiden Space, who had a team-leading six assists in each of the victories. The former Chicago Public League star also had 11 points against Logan and three steals against McCook.

"Kaiden breaks pressure," said Burns. "Kaiden's a good point guard. He played big games at Simeon. That's his role -- to keep us calm."

Space and his teammates will be further tested this weekend when the Trojans play at the Logan in downstate Carterville on Friday. The Trojans will first play Shawnee College, then will have a rematch with Logan on their home floor to wrap up the classic Saturday.

Triton will have just one home game, on December 12 against Malcolm X, prior to the holiday break.

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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)