ALBION, Mich.-- Albion took over down the stretch to deal the Trine men's basketball team a 74-65 loss in MIAA-action Wednesday night in Kresge Gymnasium.
The Britons outscored the Thunder 18-6 over the final 6:54 to turn a three-point deficit into the victory. That stretch included a 12-3 run in which Albion held Trine to just one field goal over a spn of 6:03. Jaylin Fordham scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Britons. Jared Holmquist (Reed City, Mich./Reed City) scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Thunder. Trine falls to 13-5 overall, 3-4 in the MIAA. Albion improved to 9-9 overall, 4-3 in conference action.
Will Dixon (Indianapolis, Ind./Zionsville) added 15 points for the Thunder. Kyle Dodson (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) also reached double figures with 10 points. Trine shot 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the field and hit 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) of its free throw attempts.
Corey Wheeler came off the bench to add 14 points for the Britons. Travell Oaks added 11 points and seven rebounds. Albion shot 48.1 percent (25-of-52) on the night and outrebounded the Thunder by a 37-26 margin. The Britons scored 19 second-chance points.
Trine opened the game on an 8-0 run and never trailed in the first half. Holmquist and Dixon paced the hot start with four points apiece, while the defense held the Britons without a field goal over the first 6:41.
Albion closed the deficit to one on several occasions later in the half, but an 8-3 close the first half pushed the Thunder lead to 37-29 at the break. A huge dunk by Cummings highlighted the close to the half. Trine shot 57 percent (12-of-21) in the first half while holding Albion to an 11-of-26 (43 percent) clip.
The Thunder were never able to pull away as the Britons kept pace into the closing stretch. A layup by Dixon off a pass from Holmquist made the score 59-56 with 6:54 to play before the Britons' deciding run.
A 7-1 Albion gave the Britons a 63-60 lead. A bucket by Holmquist cut the deficit to one with 3:51 to play, but Albion locked down defensively while scoring the next eight-straight points. The Britons held Trine without a field goal over a span of 6:05 to clinch the victory. Albion shot 54 percent (14-of-26) in the second half.
Trine opens the second half of MIAA play this Saturday, Jan. 30 when the Thunder host Calvin at 3 p.m. in Hershey Hall.
