Men's Basketball opens 2025 with win over Elgin

Box Score The Triton College men basketball team can respond in kind if opponents try to engage in a three-point shooting duel.

Elgin Community College tried that tactic January 8 at the Jordnt Athletic Complex gymnasium, but the likes of Dayjuan Anderson, Chase Coleman and even Makeer Makeer were more than a match beyond the arc in a 104-64 victory.

Thrown in was some good defense by Coleman on Elgin's hottest shooter, and Triton launched the 2025 portion of their schedule in impressive fashion.

Shaking off the effects of a three-week holiday layoff, the Trojans (10-3) took most of the first half to sharpen their aim as the undermanned, undersized Spartans (4-10) shot treys to even take a 27-25 lead. Guard Xavior Gonzalez was four-for-four shooting threes, totaling 16 points in the first half.

But the Trojans leading scorer Anderson launched four three-pointers of his own while Coleman added a pair as the hosts gradually pulled ahead to a 48-36 halftime lead.  In his seventh start of the year, 6-foot-10 center Pietok Machar added 10 points before the intermission.

Head Coach Brian Burns had used his taller lineup to his advantage over Elgin. The Spartans are the lone NJCAA Division II program on the schedule and just dressed seven players whose tallest was 6-foot-4.

Held scoreless in the first half, Makeer was a hot 6-for-6 with 14 points in the second half, including a back-breaking three-pointer midway through to give Triton a big lead at 61-40. From that point on, the Trojans cruised to the final score.

Burns switched Coleman onto Gonzalez, who hit two more three-pointers in the second half, but cooled somewhat to finish with a game-high 25 points.

"Gonzalez can shoot it and we made the adjustment to have Chase (Coleman) guard him in the second half and he did a great job,"

For the game, Triton was 11-for-23 in three pointers. Elgin was 14-for-34.

The Spartans live and die via the three-pointer. In their previous game against Waubonsee Community College, they had attempted 51 three-pointers (making 17) out of 77 total shots.

Overall, Burns was satisfied with the mid-winter effort shaking off the vacation rust.

"We just need to be the good version of ourselves," he said. "We've got to limit our mistakes and be consistent."

Coleman led the Trojans with 20 points, while Anderson matched his season average with 19. Machar had 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Forward Tolu Samuels had 12. Anderson and guard Hassan Dorman tied for game-high assists with seven apiece. Vijay Wallace had nine points and six assists.

The tune-up against Elgin was well-timed. Triton goes on the road for a Top 25 showdown against Southeastern Iowa Saturday in West Burlington in their first of two meetings this season. Last season Triton swept both games against the Blackhawks.
 
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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)