NEW CONCORD, Ohio – The Trine University men's basketball team polished off a 57-52 victory over Muskingum University on Saturday afternoon.
Trine, the number-seven ranked team in NCAA Division III, wins their fourth consecutive game to start the 2021-22 season, and the Fighting Muskies fall to 1-2 overall.
Nick Bowman [Angola, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern] was the leading scorer with 22 points and the only Thunder athlete in double figures offensively.
"We knew coming in it was going to be a physical game, they play in a strong conference and are a strong team," the senior Bowman mentioned. "They bumped us every time we cut, every time we screened, we had to get through it and did the little things today to get the job done."
It would be the team's defense that turn the tide in Trine's favor. The Thunder forced 26 turnovers, 17 of them steals. It is the most steals in a game since 2014. Bowman was credited with seven on the day, tying his own single-game record in program history.
"Live ball turnovers get the game going back-and-forth and we thrive in transition," Bowman continued. "We were rotating to the right spots. Those plays where we're fronting the post, jumping in the gaps, or have good ball pressure and are able to knock the ball away are just gut-wrenching for the other team."
Bowman was on the board early with four of the first eight points, but a scoring drought from the 15:40 mark to 10:45 put the Thunder in a hole. It was 11 points in a row for Muskingum, which included forcing Trine players to the bench with foul trouble.
Brent Cox [Kendallville, Ind. / East Noble] was the one to stop the bleeding with a turnaround jump shot that made it 14-10 Muskies. He would repeat the task a few moments later.
With 7:31 to go in the first, Trine retook the lead at 19-18 with a three-point basket from Bryce Williams [Archbold, Ohio / Archbold] off a feed from Ryan Preston [Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll]. Emmanuel Megnanglo [Cotonou, Benin / Amelia Academy] displayed his physicality inside with a pair of lay-ups off of offensive rebounds.
Back-to-back three-point makes by Muskingum allowed them to gain momentum, but it was quickly struck down by the duo of Bowman and Hayden Jones [Kendallville, Ind. / East Noble]. Jones went for an and-one and found Bowman on the cut for two with under four minutes left and Bowman wrapped up the half with a lay-up from Connor Jones [Danville, Ind. / Danville].
The teams went in to their respective locker rooms with the score tied at 30, and both teams struggling to get shots to fall.
The first five minutes of the second half were once again dominated by Trine and a Mitchell Geller [Huntington, Ind. / Huntington North] jumper gave the Thunder a little cushion at 40-36 before the first timeout. Unfortunately, once again, a dry spell would allow Muskingum to get back in front, 44-42.
A signature steal and dunk from Bowman tied the game at 46 with just over nine minutes left. The defense for Trine stiffened up, as they held the Muskies in check for five straight minutes gave the Thunder an opening, 52-46 with five to play.
Late free throw shooting by Bowman sealed the game as the Thunder survived by a final score of 57-52.
The Trine defense held Muskingum to 40.7% (22-of-54) shooting on the day and just 3-for-15 from long range. The 17 steals were accompanied by five blocks: two from Megnanglo, two by Williams and one late in the game by Geller. Megnangelo brought down a team-best seven boards.
The trip east continues tomorrow on Sunday, November 20 when Trine goes up I-77 to face the D3hoops #21 team in the nation, the University of Mount Union. That game tips off at 1 pm.