Going into the game tonight, every fan of the Trojans was looking to see this team clinch their playoff spot and move into the second seed in the NWAC North. Unfortunately, Shoreline had other plans battling back and forth with EvCC, until they finally came out on top in nail-biting fashion.

The Shoreline Dolphins came out firing on all cylinders as they went on a run to go up 20-10 in the first seven minutes of the game. The Trojans seemed to be playing sloppy and taking unnecessary shots as they fell into the danger of allowing a blowout on their home court. This is when the Trojans took a timeout bringing energy back to the team. With Quadir Williams running the point, distributing with ease, and Noah Jones using all the moves in his arsenal, the team came alive. In the next eight minutes, EvCC went on an unprecedented 20-2 run that put them on top by eight points with 4:15 remaining in the first half. Shoreline would start shooting lights out near the end of the half to bring that back neck and neck with a halftime score of 33-32.

Jones finished the first half as the game leader in points and boards, putting up ten and five respectively. As a team, EvCC shot an average 43.3% from the field but a horrible percentage of 27.3% from three-point range. This would contribute in the comeback of the Dolphins as they shot 44.8% and 40.0% in these two categories.

In the second half, the Trojans would start off holding a slight lead on the back of Derek Brown Jr. and Said Hersi. With a lack luster defensive effort and contested shots by the Trojans, the Dolphins would begin to score with precision and take control of the game. They would maintain a six-point lead until the last four minutes of the game. Down by seven, Said Hersi would hit back to back three-pointers and the Trojans hopes would be alive again. The whole game went back and forth for the next few minutes as EvCC would battle to stay in it. With a few rough calls in the end the possibility of a comeback would slip away in the last few seconds.

“The refs are going to do their job, no matter how terrible they are,” said Brown Jr.

EvCC went on to lose with a final score of 67-73, which drops them to a 7-6 record in league play. The Trojans would be led in this loss by Brown Jr., putting up 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Hersi and Jones would also contribute with 16 points and 14 points respectively.

“If you had told me at the beginning of the year that we wouldn’t make the playoffs, with this team we have, I would have called you crazy. Now we have to go out and win one game, and we have to do it, there is no choice,” said Mike Trautman, assistant coach.

This loss puts the Trojans in a three-way tie for second in the NWAC North, with a must win game on Sunday against the Bellevue Bulldogs. You can watch this season-deciding matchup on Feb. 28, in the Walt Price Fitness Center, at 5:00 p.m.