ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's basketball team is ranked 20th in the week six D3hoops.com Top 25. The Thunder opened up conference play with two victories over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rivals Hope College and Albion College.
Trine outlasted the Flying Dutch 89-84 in double overtime in the team's league opener last week. Senior guard Connor Jones scored a career-high 44 points and tied the school record for most points in an NCAA DIII game. Jones and sophomore guard Grant Pahl buried three-point field goals at the end of regulation and the first overtime period to continue the game against Hope.
On Saturday, the Thunder topped the Albion Britons by a score of 92-61. Senior forward Brent Cox was the highest scorer with 22 points on 10-of-16 from the field while sophomore guard Aidan Smylie recorded career-highs in points (16) and rebounds (9). Trine shot 59.0% from the field in the road victory.
Young players were able to see the floor in the win against Albion, with freshmen Drew Cwik, Logan Gard and Logan McKenzie each scoring their first points in their careers.
Looking ahead, the Thunder face Olivet College at home on Wednesday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m. and are on the road for Saturday's contest against Kalamazoo College at 3 p.m. Trine has won four in a row against the Comets and seven straight versus the Hornets.