FREELAND, MICH. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced Trine University men's basketball team the 2021 regular-season champion boasting an undefeated conference record (5-0) during the 2020-21 campaign.
Cancellations caused by COVID-19 required the MIAA to develop a formula that ensures fairness in determining regular-season champions across all sports. This formula that takes into account the win-loss record of each team and the win-loss record of their opponents (creating a strength of schedule) was adopted.
The Thunder had a standout season, claiming its first MIAA Tournament Championship and now their second conference regular-season title since joining the MIAA. Trine ended the season with a 17-1 overall record and swept the conference special awards with junior Nick Bowman (Angola, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) earning "Most Valuable Player" honors and freshman Emmanuel Megnanglo (Cotonou, Benin/Amelia Academy) was named the "Defensive Player of the Year."
Additionally, Bowman was also named first-team All-MIAA along with sophomore forward Brent Cox (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble). Junior Bryce Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) garnered second-team honors.
During the season, Trine was ranked as high as number two in the D3hoops.com national poll and were ranked sixth in the final poll.
Bowman led the league in scoring (21.8 points per game), field goals (146-of-273), steals (63) and was second in assists (54), but was tied for the league-lead in helpers in MIAA games (23). Bowman scored in double figures in all but one game with 11 games of 20 or more points and two games of 30 or more points, including a career-high 35-point effort against Olivet (Mich.) College on Feb. 13. Bowman earned MIAA "Athlete of the Week" three times this season and was named to the D3hoops.com "Team of the Week" twice.
Mengnanglo became the youngest Trine player to earn MIAA Defensive "MVP" honors after leading both the team and the MIAA in blocks with 31 and averaged 1.7 blocks per game. He had a single-game high of six blocks against Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) University and then had a four-block effort against Calvin (Mich.) University in a MIAA Tournament game on Mar. 4. Mengnanglo finished second behind Cox in team rebounding with 4.6 rpg. and averaged 5.6 ppg. on 54.1 percent shooting (46-of-85). He recorded a season-high 12 points in the team's first matchup against Olivet on Jan. 23.