NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. -- Senior Pete Smith (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) was one of three players to score in double figures with a game-high 21 points to lead the Trine University men's basketball team to a 92-63 win against Manchester (Ind.) University in North Manchester, Ind.
Smith connected on five three-pointers for 15 of his 21 points and shot eight-of-13 overall from the field (61.5 percent) for the game. He also had five rebounds as the Thunder out-rebounded the Spartans, 44-34. Joining Smith in double digits was junior Langston Johnson (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) who finished the game with 19 points while shooting eight-of-12 (66.7 percent). Senior Myles Copeland (Perrysburg, Ohio/Toledo St. John's) was third in scoring with 17 points and was one of three players to grab a game-tying high seven rebounds.
Johnson and senior Ellis Cummings (Ottawa Hills, Ohio/Ottawa Hills) also pulled down seven boards in the win.
In addition, sophomore Maurice Scott, Jr. (South Bend, Ind./Riley) had game-highs of six assists and four steals.
Trine (4-1) gave up the game's first basket, but then went on a 12-2 scoring run to take an eight-point advantage, 12-4, at the 16:16 mark of the first half following a three-pointer by Smith. The Thunder never trailed in the game again, but Manchester (1-3) would make things interesting by pulling to within a point, 19-18, with 10:48 to go in the period. Trine responded with seven straight points thanks to baskets by senior Jared Dishop (Napoleon, Ohio/Liberty Center), Scott and Smith that made the score, 25-18, with just under eight-and-a-half minutes remaining.
The Thunder's lead eventually reached 11 points, 33-22, in the first half thanks to a jumper by Scott as part of a 6-0 mini run en route the visitors having a seven-point advantage at the break, 41-34.
Trine led by double figures for nearly the entire second half and began the frame with five straight points by Johnson thanks to a layup to begin the scoring in the period and was followed by a triple on Trine's next possession. Cummings gave Trine its first 20-point margin on a tip-in that capped a 7-0 run and made it a 58-38 game at the 15:04 mark.
Nearing the nine-minute mark, Trine posted its largest lead of the game of 29 points after one-of-two free-throws by freshman Nick Bowman (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) that made the score 77-48. The Spartans then went on a 10-0 run that narrowed the gap to 19 points, 79-60, with 5:23 to play, but the possible momentum shift ended there as Trine answered with eight consecutive points to extend the lead back over 20 points and equaled its largest lead with a final score of 92-63.
Trine will host Great Lakes Christian College next Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the MTI Center. The two teams are set to square off at 6 p.m.