ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's basketball team fell short to Alma College 57-55 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) action on Wednesday night inside MTI Center.
The Thunder (10-6, 3-2 MIAA) had a tough time overcoming an early deficit and were contained to just 36.4% (20-for-55) from the field and 23.8% (5-for-21) from deep. The Scots (2-12, 1-4 MIAA) on the other hand, made 22 of their 43 shots (51.2%), including eight made shots from beyond the arc.
Alma scored the first six points of the game before Nick Bowman [Angola, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern] threw down a dunk on the fastbreak following a steal by Aiden Warzecha [Milford, Mich. / Milford]. Unfortunately, the lead continued to grow and the Thunder were forced to take a timeout down 14-4 seven minutes into the game.
Emmanuel Megnanglo [Cotonou, Benin / Amelia Academy] got a steal and dunk of his own with just over seven minutes left in the first half, but Trine still trailed 16-10. Bryce Williams [Archbold, Ohio / Archbold] continued his hot shooting from deep with a three-point field goal and one from Bowman as well, however Alma was able to answer every attack from the Thunder offensively.
Grant Pahl [Sylvania, Ohio / Southview] and Brent Cox [Kendallville, Ind. / East Noble] each converted attempts down the stretch while the Scots led 28-22 at the break.
A Warzecha jump shot and Pahl three started the second half and got the game to within one point, but Alma got the lead back up to six at 35-29 six minutes in. A Trine timeout was effective in spurting a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game. Cox hit a lay-up, and an old fashioned three-point play and Bowman notched a steal and score to go up 36-35 with 12 minutes left.
The Scots hit a pair of free throws on the next possession and retake the advantage, but it would be short-lived. Megnanglo found Williams for three to tie the game at 49 and Alma's head coach called for time just above the halfway point in the period.
Four consecutive three-point field goals from the Scots gave them all the momentum in the later stages of the game as the Scots jumped ahead by nine. Brent Cox halted the run with a dunk in the half court, and a jumper in the paint made it 53-50 with under three minutes to play.
Both teams traded three-point baskets as they entered the final minute. Bowman was fouled and knocked down a pair to make it 56-55 with 50 seconds on the clock. A turnover by Alma gave Trine a chance to take the lead with a make, but came up empty. A backhalf miss on the one-and-one by the Scots allowed the Thunder one final shot with six seconds left, but were unable to get a shot up before the buzzer sounded.
Bowman and Brent Cox were double figure scorers with 17 and 14 points. Warzecha led the team in rebounds at eight, all coming on the defensive end of the floor, and assists by distributing four.
Men's basketball gets a chance to get back in the win column on Saturday, January 22 when the Thunder venture to Calvin University to take on the Knights. Tip-off is at 3 pm.