ADRIAN, Mich. – On the backs of a pair of career-highs on Wednesday night, the Trine University men's basketball team bounced back with a 76-64 triumph at Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival, Adrian College. The Thunder got 25 points, eight rebounds, three steals and four blocks from their junior forward Emmanuel Megnanglo and senior guard Connor Jones dished out nine assists.
"We're excited about another MIAA road win," head coach Brooks Miller said postgame. "We will enjoy this for a few more hours then turn our focus to Olivet. It was a great collective effort but Connor's nine assists and Emmanuel's offensive efficiency were significant factors in our success."
The win puts Trine at 16-2 overall and 6-1 in league action. The Bulldogs of Adrian falter to 5-13 on the year and 2-5 in MIAA contests.
Aidan Smylie connected on a layup to open the game as the teams went back-and-forth in the opening minutes feeling one another out. The lead changed hands three times in the first eight minutes of play and the score was tied at 11. The sophomore had an and-one at the halfway point in the game in the midst of a 12-4 run for the Thunder.
Megnanglo was true inside with six minutes to go in the first half to give the team a double-digit lead at 27-17, but Adrian would fight back. Out of a timeout, the Bulldogs rattled off eight in a row to get to within one possession. Jones would hit Megnanglo for a dunk to spark a 9-2 run to close the first. Jones hit the big man for another dunk and found Nate Tucker for a made layup.
At the half, Trine led 39-31 with assists on 11-of-14 made baskets. Jones had nine points and seven assists at the break. As a team, the Thunder shot 56.0% (14-of-25) from the field.
Brent Cox and Grant Pahl extended the range for Trine in the second half with consecutive makes to go up 49-35. The team maintained a steady advantage throughout a majority of the second half thanks to scoring by Megnanglo inside as well. Any time the Bulldogs got a make on the offensive end, Trine countered by looking to their bigs with Megnanglo and Cox.
The Thunder led 64-56 with five and a half minutes to go when Adrian took a timeout to regroup for a final push in the closing minutes. A pair of free throws by the Bulldogs cut the Trine lead to seven, but Megnanglo recorded a steal and dunk to seize momentum. Another turnover led to a jump shot by Jones to go up 70-59 with just over two minutes remaining.
Late game free throws by Cox and Megnanglo sealed the 76-64 victory. The Thunder shot 54.0% (27-of-50) in the game, the third-highest total in a game this season. 17 assists matches a season-high as well. Four student-athletes were in double figures: Megnanglo (25), Jones (15), Cox (12) and Pahl (11).
The road trip continues for the men's basketball team on Saturday, January 28 when the team faces Olivet College at 3 p.m.