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Posted: Mar 12, 2025

Triton defends title to claim fifth championship in seven years

(Image courtesy of Triton College Athletics)
(Image courtesy of Triton College Athletics)

UPDATE (3/17/25) - POPLAR BLUFF, MO - Triton College (28-5) lost to Three Rivers Community College by an 84-72 final on Saturday in the NJCAA Midwest District Championship. The Trojans trailed 43-27 at halftime and were unable to complete a comeback effort in the second half. Vijay Wallace led Triton College with 19 points, followed by 15 points from Tolu Samuels, 14 points from Dayjaun Anderson, and 13 points by Peitok Machar. The Trojans, last year's NJCAA national runners-up, did receive an at-large bid into the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championships...aka The Tournament...in Hutchinson, Kansas, from March 22-29. They will open as the #15-seed and play a first round game on Saturday, March 22 at 2:30pm against Columbia State Community College (27-4). The winner advances to play #2-seed Cowley College (29-4) in the second round on March 24 at 2:30pm.

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RIVER GROVE, ILL. - The defending NJCAA national runners-up had their hands full Saturday, but in the end, top-seeded Triton College held off second-seeded Kankakee Community College by a 79-76 final to repeat as Region 4 Division I Men's Basketball Tournament champions. The Trojans have claimed five of the last seven titles since moving up from Division II in 2018-19. Brian Burns was awarded the Region 4 Coach of the Year honor. (Recap: Triton)

Triton College, ranked #7 in the NJCAA Division I Poll, opened tournament play with a 96-56 quarterfinal victory over #8-seed Truman College, and followed it up with a 74-61 defeat of #5-seed Highland Community College in the semifinals. The Cavaliers (24-9) claimed postseason wins over #7-seed Olive-Harvey College by a 105-44 margin and then 81-77 to narrowly get past #3-seed Malcolm X College.

In the championship, the host Trojans built a 37-30 lead in the first half; however, KCC rallied back in the second half to keep the game close. After a pair of free throws gave Triton College a late three-point lead, Kankakee Community College was unable to convert a three-point try at the buzzer. Tolu Samuels went for 20 points and eight rebounds to pace the Trojans. Dayjuan Anderson added 16 and Peitook Machar registered a double-double of 14 points and ten rebounds. 

Triton College (28-4) advances to the NJCAA Midwest District Championship against Region 16 champion Three Rivers Community College (20-12). The game will be played Saturday, March 15 at 7:00pm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The winner earns an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championships...aka The Tournament...in Hutchinson, Kansas, from March 22-29.  

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