OLIVET, Mich. – The Trine University men's basketball team utilized a 41-20 edge in the second half to earn a 73-52 victory at Olivet College on Saturday afternoon. The Thunder shot 54.5% (18-of-33) in the second and had just two turnovers to pull away. In total, Trine dominated inside with a 50-20 point differential in the paint and had 19 second chance points to the Comets three.
The victory puts the Thunder record at 17-2 overall and 7-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) action. Olivet falls to 8-11 on the season and are an even 4-4 in league play.
It was not until nearly four minutes into the game before Emmanuel Megnanglo made a layup off of an offensive rebound, but the team trailed 4-2 at that point. The Thunder fell behind 8-2 before Aidan Smylie, Nate Carbaugh, Nate Tucker and Ryan Preston all scored to put the team in front with a 10-0 run.
Preston and Carbaugh carried the team offensively before head coach Brooks Miller called for time with the team at a four-point deficit. Brent Cox scored his first points of the afternoon with back-to-back baskets, but the Thunder were still down 27-24 with five minutes remaining in the first half.
The Trine defense stepped up late in the period, with Olivet only scoring two points over the final three minutes of the period. A late basket by the Comets tied the game up at 32 at the break.
The teams traded baskets to begin the second half, but a three-point field goal by Cox just over five minutes in changed the momentum of the game for the visiting team. Grant Pahl was credited for the assist on the basket that gave Trine a 43-40 lead and sparked a massive scoring run.
Coming out of a timeout, the Thunder rattled off 11 points in a row, including a steal and dunk on the other end by Cox. An efficient offensive effort continued and a pair of free throws by Smylie made it 60-45 Trine with five minutes left to play. Cox, Preston and Smylie scored on consecutive possessions from there to further extend the advantage.
The final three and a half minutes would be tough on the Olivet offense as the team was only able to muster up three points in the 73-52 road win for the Thunder.
All told, it was Cox who led the way on offense for Trine with 22 points. He shot 10-of-15 from the field and grabbed five rebounds. Carbaugh led the team by pulling down seven misses on the day. He fifth-year senior led the team with three steals, and each of the starters had two each. The team tied their season-high with 15 steals in the contest.
Trine will look for the season sweep against Albion College on Wednesday, February 1 when the Britons visit the MTI Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.