HOLLAND, Mich. -- Calvin defeated Trine's men's basketball team 75-64 to eliminate the Thunder from the MIAA Tournament Friday evening at DeVos Fieldhouse.
The Knights outrebounded the Thunder by a 47-29 margin and owned a 48-24 scoring edge in the paint to notch the victory. Nick Kronemeyer and Michael Wilks each scored 20 points to pace the Calvin, while Michael Welch added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Will Dixon (Indianapolis, Ind. / Zionsville) and Adam Ciszewski (Sacramento, Calif. / Bella Vista) each scored 15 points lead Trine. Calvin advanced to the MIAA Tournament championship, where the Knights will face top seed and regular-season champion Hope.
Dixon finished his career fifth all-time in scoring in program history with 1,799 points. He passed Ian Jackson (2009-13) for the highest scoring total since Trine joined NCAA Division III in 2004. He added four assists tonight. He concluded his career eighth in school history with 310 career assists and sixth all-time with 160 steals.
Ciszewski tallied a new career high in his final game for the Thunder. The senior provided an offensive spark on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. Ciszewski shot 50 percent from long distance this year. The Thunder shot 33 percent (8-of-24) from three on the night and set a program record in season three-point field goal percentage at 41.4 percent. Trine shot 42 percent (25-of-60) overall.
Wilks scored his 20 points in just 24 minutes on 7-of-15 shooting. Kronemeyer came off the bench to contribute that total on 9-of-13 from the field. Welch came off the bench as well to notch his double-double. He added four assists. The Knights' bench produced 44 points. Calvin shot 45.5 percent (30-of-66) from the field.
Neither team led by more than seven points until a 16-4 run by the Knights midway through the second half. The run turned a tied game into a 61-49 Calvin advantage with 6:49 to play. Cam Denney scored seven points during that run to lead the Knights. Trine was unable to pull any closer than eight the rest of the way.
Trine jumped out to a 10-3 lead behind seven points from Kyle Dodson (Centerville, Ohio / Centerville). The Knights seized the lead back with a nine-point run. The two teams traded first half runs. Calvin took a 32-30 lead into the half.
The Thunder took the lead early in the second half on a Ciszewski three, but Trine never led again after Denney answered with a layup. The Thunder tied the score on two more occasions before the game's deciding run.
Trine concluded the season 14-12 overall and made its sixth-straight appearance in the MIAA Tournament semifinals.