GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Trine University men's basketball team was defeated by Calvin University in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Semifinal game on Friday night, 75-54.
The Thunder (18-9) were held to 33.3% (19-for-57) from the field, which ties their season-low. The Knights (20-7) advance to the conference championship game tomorrow with the win.
Mitchell Geller [Huntington, Ind. / Huntington North] scored inside on back-to-back possessions to net the first four points for the Thunder, however returned the favor with four quick points of their own. Six straight points by Calvin advanced the lead to 12-6 coming out of the game's first media timeout.
Nick Bowman [Angola, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern] put his name in the scorebook with four points, including a basket to get the game down to one possession, but the Knights were able to use a 9-2 run to stay ahead. A pair of free throws by Emmanuel Megnanglo [Cotonou, Benin / Amelia Academy] were the Trine points.
An 8-2 run by the Knights allowed them to claim a 33-20 advantage with five minutes remaining in the first half. Connor Jones [Danville, Ind. / Danville] and Aiden Warzecha [Milford, Mich. / Milford] each found the bottom of the net as time ticked down in the frame.
Bowman was fouled on a three-point try and knocked down all three free throws, which gave him exactly 1,000 career points. He finishes his career with 1,004 points, good for 44th in Trine men's basketball history.
Trine found themselves trailing 41-30 at the half and struggled to fill the cup offensively in half number two. The first four points were scored by Calvin to go up 45-30, but Megnanglo answered that with four points himself. Bowman was able to secure a steal-and-score a few minutes later to try to pull his team back into it. Unfortunately, it would not be the case.
At the halfway point in the second half, it was 56-39. Bryce Williams [Archbold, Ohio / Archbold] knocked down a jump shot that would be the only made field goal over the next three minutes. The lead jumped to a game-high 23 after consecutive three's by Calvin. Megnanglo answered with a long-range shot, his second of the 2021-22 season, as well as a Brent Cox [Kendallville, Ind. / East Noble] make from three, but it was not enough as the Knights secured a 75-54 win.
Megnanglo led the team in scoring (12) and rebounding (6) on the night. Bowman was in double figures with 11 points as well as Connor Jones at 10.
As a team, the Thunder finish at 18-9 and have the second-best team scoring defense in the NCAA DIII era, allowing just 61.6 points per game.