DEERFIELD, Ill. — Closing games has been a season-long struggle with a young Peregrine squad, and Wednesday night’s game was another frustrating finish. Trinity International University, who beat the Peregrines in overtime last month at the PUC Recreation Athletic Center, swept the season series overcoming a 17-point deficit with a 69-63 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory.

The Peregrines (6-21, 4-7 CCAC) opened the game on a 9-2 run and stretched the lead to a commanding 39-22 at halftime. But the offense struggled in the second half scoring 13 points in 13-minutes of action.

The Trojans (7-21, 3-8) continued to close the gap and grabbed their first lead of the game, 53-52, with under seven minutes to play in regulation. Both teams traded leads in the final minutes, and the Trojans pushed their lead to 67-63 with 28 seconds left.

Peregrine junior guard Kris Krstevski (Lake Central) attempted a 3-pointer that rattled out with 15 seconds left. The Trojans grabbed the rebound off the miss and avoided the Peregrine defense until a foul was called with less than four seconds to play. A pair of made free throws finished the scoring.

Junior co-captain Kevin Thomas (Highland) finished with a double-double to lead the Peregrines with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Michael Patton (West Side) shot 85 percent from the field and finished with 13 points and led the team with seven rebounds.

Freshman Justin Latimore (Indianapolis North Central) finished with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and the team’s only shot block. Junior forward Charles Cruz (Gavit) had eight points in the loss.

The Peregrines had the edge from the field hitting 48 percent compared to 42 percent for the Trojans, and outrebounded their opponents 30-25.

PUC closes out the regular season at 3 p.m. Saturday in the second game of a CCAC doubleheader with Cardinal Stritch University. The women play at 1 p.m. Fans will be treated to freebies during Fan Appreciation Day game promotions.