ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine men's basketball team has released its 2016-17 schedule, the team announced Tuesday.
Highlighting the schedule are 12 chances to see the Thunder in action at Hershey Hall, including three-straight home games to start the season. The season tips off Tuesday, Nov. 15 with a 7 p.m. matchup against Defiance on Trine's home floor. The contest is the first of 11 non-conference games on tap for the Thunder. Trine will be tested in its non-league schedule, with seven games against teams who finished last season with a winning percentage above .500.
The three-game homestand to open the season also includes back-to-back games against opponents from the North Coast Athletic Conference on Nov. 18-19. The Thunder take on NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 participant Ohio Wesleyan, as well as Kenyon. MIAA-member Albion will also face the two NCAC foes in Hershey Hall over the course of the two days.
The non-conference slate also includes two stretches of three consecutive road games, the first of which sees Trine face Manchester, Baldwin Wallace and Heidelberg. The second three-game road swing includes stops at North Park, Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wilmington (Ohio).
Non-conference home games also include a matchup with Great Lakes Christian and a New Year's Eve tilt against Ohio Northern.
The conference slate once again includes home and away matchups with every MIAA foe. Trine has five league games that are a part of doubleheaders that will feature both Thunder basketball teams in action in Hershey Hall. The University will host community day events at doubleheaders scheduled for Jan. 14 (vs. Hope) and Feb. 11 (vs. Alma).
Trine earned its highest win-total as a member of NCAA Division III last season, posting an 18-9 overall mark and advancing to the MIAA Tournament Championship for the first time in program history. Senior Jared Holmquist was named the 2015-16 CoSIDA Academic All-American® of the Year for men's basketball and received two All-Region honors.
The Thunder will return two-time All-MIAA guard Will Dixon (Indianpolis, Ind. / Zionsville). Dixon enters the season ranked 20th in school history with 1,295 career points. Kyle Dodson (Centerville, Ohio / Centerville) and Ellis Cummings (Ottawa Hills, Ohio / Ottawa Hills) will also return with starting experience.
The complete schedule is listed below. Please note that tip-off times for several games have yet to be finalized and will be announced at a later date. The schedule can also be viewed HERE.
| 2016-17 Trine Men's Basketball Schedule | ||
| Nov. 15 | DEFIANCE | 7:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 18 | KENYON | 7:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 19 | OHIO WESLEYAN | 4 p.m. |
| Nov. 23 | Manchester | 7:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 26 | Baldwin Wallace | 5 p.m. |
| Nov. 30 | Heidelberg | 7 p.m. |
| Dec. 6 | GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN | 7 p.m. |
| Dec. 17 | North Park | 4 p.m. |
| Dec. 19 | Wisconsin-Whitewater | TBA |
| Dec. 29 | Wilmington (Ohio) | 3 p.m. |
| Dec. 31 | OHIO NORTHERN | 2 p.m. |
| Jan. 4 | CALVIN* | 8 p.m. |
| Jan. 7 | Kalamazoo* | TBA |
| Jan. 11 | Adrian* | 7:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 14 | HOPE* | 4 p.m. |
| Jan. 18 | Alma* | TBA |
| Jan. 21 | Olivet* | TBA |
| Jan. 25 | ALBION* | 7:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 28 | Calvin* | 3 p.m. |
| Feb. 1 | KALAMAZOO* | 8 p.m. |
| Feb. 4 | ADRIAN* | 3 p.m. |
| Feb. 8 | Hope* | TBA |
| Feb. 11 | ALMA* | 3 p.m. |
| Feb. 15 | OLIVET* | 7:30 p.m. |
| Feb. 18 | Albion* | 3 p.m. |
| Feb. 24 | MIAA Tournament Semifinals - Site TBA | TBA |
| Feb. 25 | MIAA Tournament Championship - Site TBA | TBA |
ALL CAPS denotes HOME game
*- denotes MIAA game