ANGOLA, IND.-- Trine's men's basketball team ground out a 61-57 victory over Olivet in MIAA-action Wednesday night in Hershey Hall.
The Thunder were able to prevail in a game in which neither team led by more than nine. Tyler Good (Swanton, Ohio/Evergreen) led the way for Trine with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Good has now scored in double-figures in 13-consecutive games. Jared Holmquist (Reed City, Mich./Reed City) added his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 13 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Olivet was led by Blake Krum, who came off the bench to score 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Trine improves to 11-7 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA. Olivet falls to 3-14 overall, 1-5 in conference action.
The efforts of Good and Holmquist helped pace Trine to a 32-24 scoring advantage in the paint. Will Dixon (Indianapolis, Ind./Zionsville) added 10 points for the Thunder. Trine shot 39 percent from the field (24-of-62).
T.J. Vondette notched 10 points and seven boards for Olivet. The Comet bench outscored their Thunder counterparts 25-4, due in large part to the efforts of Krum. R.J. Haas added eight points off the bench. Olivet connected on 34 percent from the field (19-of-56).
The key stretch of the game came after a 12-5 Comet surge cut the Trine lead to 52-51 with 3:45 remaining in the contest. The teams traded defensive stops after offensive rebounds earned each team an extra possession. Good picked the perfect time for his only three of the night, canning a long-range trey to make the score 55-51 with 1:41 left on the clock.
Krum was able to answer at the other end for Olivet to keep it a one-point game with 1:18 to play. On the ensuing Trine possession, Holmquist tipped in a miss after a shot with the shot clock winding down to push the lead back to three. Krum missed a three at the other end, and Dustin Hall (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) knocked down two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Good added a pair of free throws after another Trine defensive stop before Kevin Woodson hit a three as time expired for the final margin.
Trine will open the second half of conference play Saturday, Feb. 1 when they host Hope at 1:00 p.m. in Hershey Hall. The game is part of Hoop-la Community Day in conjunction with the women's doubleheader against St. Mary's at 3:00 p.m. Admission to both games is free, and there will be many giveaways and prizes throughout the day.
