ALMA, Mich.-- Trine was unable to overcome a cold shooting night at Alma, as the Thunder fell to the Scots, 58-53 in MIAA-action Wednesday night.
DJ Beckman scored 22 points to lead Alma, including 15 in the second half. The Scots held the Thunder to a 38 percent (19-of-51) shooting clip. Jared Holmquist (Reed City, Mich./Reed City) notched his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds to lead Trine. The loss drops the Thunder to 15-7 overall, 8-3 in the MIAA. Trine is now tied for second in the conference with Hope. Alma improved to 8-14 overall, 6-5 in league play.
The Scots owned the last seven-plus minutes of the first half, closing the opening period on a 13-3 run after Trine had taken its first lead. Alma held the Thunder without a field goal for a span of nearly six minutes. Fairchild contributed 10 points in the first half for the Scots.
Trine was unable to pull any closer than three the rest of the way. Jake Bagley (Van Wert, Ohio/Van Wert) knocked down a pair of threes to pull the score to 38-35 with 12:35 to play, but the Scots halted the Trine surge there. Bagley finished with nine points for the Thunder.
Chase Fairchild added 15 points on a 5-of-10 shooting effort from the floor for Alma. The Scots shot 45 percent from the field (19-of-42).
Trine will travel to Calvin this Saturday, Feb. 14 for a 3 p.m. tip-off. The Thunder trail the Knights by one game in the race for the conference regular-season title.