JOLIET, Ill. - Junior forward Greg Leavell's double-double led University of St. Francis to a 76-65 win over Trinity International Tuesday night at the Recreation Center and gave Saints' coach Pat Sullivan his 500th career collegiate coaching victory.

Leavell (Schoolcraft College/Farmington Hills, MI) scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to help the Saints (2-8) snap an eight-game losing streak. Junior forward Justin Richmond (Highland CC/Waukegan, IL) also played a big role for the Saints with 17 points, including 10 in the big second half.

Sullivan, a Joliet native and a graduate of Joliet Catholic High School and Lewis University, has earned all 500 of his collegiate wins at St. Francis where he has coached for 34 years. He came to the school for the 1976-77 campaign after a successful run as head coach at Providence Catholic High School.

"What we said at halftime was to continue to play defense," said Sullivan who, in his typical fashion, talked more about his team's success on this night than his own milestone. "We were pleased with the defense, but the biggest thing was that our shot selection was not what it should have been in the first half.

"Justin had a great game, his best game with us and the same with Greg, who has great ability," continued Sullivan. "They both were great offensively for us. And on defense, everyone had a big game. Their kids can score and we held them to 40 percent shooting tonight."

Eventually, the veteran Saints coach and familiar face in Joliet and the Chicago basketball community got around to addressing what win No. 500 meant for him.

"I don't know what to say ... It's just a relief. We went through a rough stretch there for awhile and it was just nice to be able to bring one home."

Saints assistant coach Jack Hermanski, who has been Sullivan's right-hand man for the past 24 years, presented his good friend with the game ball following the win.

"I told Pat I was with him for 200, 300 and 400 and it was an honor to give him the ball for No. 500," said Hermanski who joined Sullivan's staff in 1986. " It took us nine tries in the last month to get it, but we did it and it is a well-deserved honor for a great coach."

The Saints led for most of the game but did find themselves down by two points at halftime as TIU went to the locker room with a 34-32 advantage. 

USF twice held leads of 9 points in the opening half at 17-8 and again at 23-14 with 10:46 left. The visiting Trojans then took off on a 14-2 run to overtake the Saints and assume a 28-25 lead at the 6:21 mark. TIU pushed the margin to as much as 4 points at 34-30 with 2:15 left before settling for the 34-32 halftime edge.

USF quickly took the lead at the start of the second half on a 3-pointer by Leavell and only trailed one more time - at 46-45 with 14:40 remaining - in the game. Richmond made a pair of free throws to give the Saints a 47-46 lead and USF controlled the rest of the contest.

The Saints built the lead to as much as 13 points in the final minute.

Leavell got scoring support from Richmond and senior guard Ryan Gunderson (Ottawa H.S./Ottawa, IL) who added 11. Richmond, Gunderson and senior guard Tristan Therkield (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) paced the team with 3 assists each.

Leavell, a junior college transfer in his first year with the Saints, has been the key offensive ingredient in both of USF's wins to date. He collected a season-best 24 points in USF's season-opening win at home over Calumet College of St. Joseph (IN) back on Nov. 3.

The Saints continue a busy week at home with nonconference games both Friday and Saturday nights at the Rec Center. The Saints entertain Purdue Calumet on Friday and Judson on Saturday, with each game tipping off at 7:30 p.m.