Buren Named CCAC Player of the Week

One of Living Hope Church’s own garnered accolades for his athletic prowess last week. Matt Buren, a forward from Macomb, Illinois, was named CCAC Men’s Division II Basketball Player of the Week for January 31-February 5. Buren, a junior at Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, Illinois), scored the game-winning lay-up with seconds left in the game in a 74-72 overtime win against Trinity International University (Deerfield, Illinois) on February 3.

“It is an honor,” said Buren. “I had a couple of good games, although [receiving the recognition is] always strange because basketball is really a team game. I am now just looking forward to our next couple of games; hopefully we can finish out the season well and have continued success.”

The Trolls have two more regular season games before the CCAC (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) tournament begins on Tuesday, February 22. If the team pulls off two wins before then, they will be either champions or co-champions of their conference, which would result in a solid seeding for the tournament.

“Basketball is a fun experience, but what it has really meant is the opportunity to come to Trinity,” Buren said. “I would not have known about this school, nor would I have come here it if was not for basketball. I really think that was the Lord setting that up, making me the player that I am—therefore getting me to come to this school, which I know I was supposed to be.”

And without those series of events, Buren would also have not found Living Hope, which meets on Trinity’s campus.

“Living Hope had just been a blessing,” Buren said. “This has been the church that has been here for me, especially Dan [Lugo]—he has been a part of my life—as well as the overall community. I have a church when I’m not home that I can do to where people know me and I know them. It is great fellowship here.”

(photo courtesy of Trinity Christian College)