HUTCHINSON -- The Triton College men's basketball program is only in their fifth season competing at the NJCAA Division I level. After taking the JUCO world by storm with their run to the Final Four as an at-large team in the field in 2022, the Trojans have now taken the next step.
Triton secured their first ever appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Championship Game by hanging on to defeat Connors State College (OK) 87-84 March 28 in a national semifinal game in Hutchinson.
The No. 7 seeded Trojans (34-2) will play the tournament's top-seed, Barton County Community College (35-1) for all the marbles Saturday, March 30 at 1:00 p.m. The game will be aired nationwide on ESPNU. The Cougars from Great Bend, Kansas earned their spot in the title game with a 93-78 victory over Indian Hills Community College (IA) in their national semifinal.
As a member of NJCAA Division II, Triton made a pair of National Championship Game appearances, finishing runners-up in 2016 and winning it all in 2018, their final season in Division II before moving up to Division I.
"Making the National Championship Game is another step for us (as a program)," said Triton head coach Brian Burns. "I think the quarterfinal win over South Plains and advancing to the Final Four for the second time in three years established us maybe not as a blue-blood just yet, but as one of the top five or ten (NJCAA Division I) programs in the country."
Unlike the first two tournament games that saw the Trojans fall behind early, they jumped out fast against the No. 19 seeded Cowboys (34-3).
Triton opened the contest by making nine of their first 12 shots attempted. On the other hand, Connors State missed 11 of their first 12 field goal attempts as the Trojans built what appeared to be a comfortable 30-12 lead with 10:40 remaining in the first half after an Amar Augillard three-pointer.
The Trojans finished the first half shooting 20-of-32 from field (63 percent) to lead 51-37 at halftime.
However, the Cowboys who only made one three-point field goal the entire first half, came out a different team after the intermission. Connors State connected on four three's the first five minutes of the second half, combined with some Triton turnovers to quickly pull within 60-55.
The final 15 minutes was a tough and physical battle for the Trojans as Augillard seemed to hit key shots to keep Connors State at bay. But the Cowboys finally lassoed Triton in and tied the game at 81 apiece with 3:40 to play in regulation.
The Trojans would score the next four points on a bucket from Antonio Lisenbee and two free throws from Dylan Williams.
The closing minutes came down to free throws and after Dior Conners split a pair to give Triton an 87-84 lead with 17 seconds left.
Connors State had one last chance to tie, but Khamani Cooper's forced three from the left wing fell short and AJ Dixon collected the rebound as the final seconds expired to clinch the Trojans date with destiny on Saturday.
"It's March," said Williams about cliffhanging second half. "Everyone who is here wants to win a national championship. We knew at halftime even with us up by 14, that we were going to be in dog fight and (Connors State) was going to give their all in the second half."
Augillard led all scorers with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field, including 6-of-11 from long range. Dixon had another strong game with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Three other Triton players were in double-figures paced by Williams who registered 14 points and seven assists. Lisenbee added with 12 points and also six rebounds. Conners hit some timely three's in the second half to finish with 11 points.
