ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University men's basketball team nearly overcame an 18-point first half deficit and pulled to within three points in the second half, but fell short against Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University, 68-59, in non-conference action at Hershey Hall.
Trine (1-3) scored the game's first basket on a jumper by junior Myles Copeland (Perrysburg, Ohio/Toledo St. John's), but Baldwin Wallace (3-1) then scored 17 straight points as part of an overall 20-1 scoring run to take command with a 17-point advantage, 20-3. The Thunder would have to try and play catchup the rest of the way and posted back-to-back buckets by juniors Pete Smith (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) and Jared Dishop (Napoleon, Ohio/Liberty Center) following the BW run to get to within 13 points, 20-7, with 12:35 to go in the opening half.
The Yellow Jackets answered with a 7-2 run to jump out to their largest lead of the game of 18 points, 27-9, with under 10 minutes to go. Trine worked its way back to a more manageable 11-point margin, 29-18, with 6:03 remaining in the period following a jumper by sophomore Maurice Hunter (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) and would trail by 13 points, 34-21, at the break.
Early in the second half, Trine edged closer with consecutive baskets and narrowed the gap to single digits for the first time since the 17:40 mark of the first half to trail by nine points, 34-25, thanks to a jumper by Smith. BW answered the four Thunder points with four straight of its own to extend the margin back to double digits, 38-25, with 17:01 to go in the game.
The Thunder then began to make their rally as a pair of free-throws by Copeland sparked a 10-0 run to erase the sizeable deficit and trail by just three points, 38-35, at the 12:42 mark. BW then outscored Trine, 18-8, over the next 6:50 to go back up to double figures, 56-43, with just under six minutes remaining.
Trine rallied again and worked its way back to within four points, 63-59, with 1:09 left after another jumper by Copeland. But that was as close as the Thunder got the rest of the way as Trine was forced to foul which led to five-of-seven BW free-throws in the final minute to secure the 68-59 win.
Trine had three players score in double figures, including Hunter who finished with a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Copeland finished the game with a game-high 19 points on five-of-14 shooting (35.7 percent) and nine-of-10 (90.0 percent) at the free-throw line. In addition, he also pulled down nine boards. Smith rounded out the high scorers with 15 points.
Up next for the Thunder will be a home matchup against Heidelberg (Ohio) University on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the Trine women's team. The women will take on Franklin College at 6 p.m., followed by the men against Heidelberg at 8 p.m.