TIFFIN, OHIO-- Trine opened the season with an 80-63 loss to Heidelberg Saturday evening at Seiberling Gymnasium.
The Student Princes took advantage of an uncharacteristic 16 Thunder turnovers, converting those miscues into 27 points. Heidelberg also held a 30-20 edge in points in the paint. Marcquice Taylor scored 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and added four rebounds and four assists to lead the Student Princes. Tyler Good (Swanton, Ohio/Evergreen) scored 16 points to lead Trine. The Thunder open the season 0-1. Heidelberg is 1-0.
Heidelberg shot 50 percent from the field (27-of-54) and hit 19-of-20 free throws (95 percent). The Student Princes' bench made an impact with 34 points, led by DeAvery Collins' 10 points. Ben Jones also reached double-figures with 11 points.
Will Dixon (Indianapolis, Ind./Zionsville) scored 15 points for Trine. Ben Syroka (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer) and Adison Daub (Corunna, Ind./DeKalb) each added seven points in their Trine debuts. Six newcomers saw action for the Thunder. Trine shot 36 percent from the field (18-of-49).
The turning point came near the end of the first half after Trine had fought back from an early deficit to take a 24-20 lead. A 16-1 run by the Student Princes over a span of 2:59 opened up a double-digit lead for Heidelberg. The Student-Princes outscored the Thunder 18-7 over the final 5:51 of the first half to take a 38-31 lead into the break.
The Thunder closed within five when a Good three made the score 44-39 with 15:05 to play, but Heidelberg had an immediate answer with a 14-0 run that effectively put the game out of reach. The run left Trine staring at a 58-39 deficit with 9:56 to play.
Trine will host their home-opener this Wednesday, Nov. 19 against Elmhurst. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. inside Hershey Hall.