ANGOLA, IND. -- Senior Myles Copeland (Perrysburg, Ohio/Toledo St. John's) scored a game-high 23 points as the Trine University men's basketball team beat Spalding (Ky.) University, 93-55, as part of the St. Andrews Products Classic at the MTI Center in Angola, Ind.
Trine (6-2) led by 21 points after the first half and began the game with six unanswered points, all scored by Copeland, in the first two minutes as the Thunder never trailed in the game. Leading by just four points with a little over 10 minutes to go in the half, Trine took control of the game with an ensuing 12-0 scoring run that ended in a jumper by senior Ellis Cummings (Ottawa Hills, Ohio/Ottawa Hills) and gave the home team a 16-point margin, 33-17, at the 5:23 mark.
Late in the half, Trine recorded its first 20-point advantage following a basket by senior Jared Dishop (Napoleon, Ohio/Liberty Center) to make the score, 39-19. en route to leading by a score of 45-24 at the intermission.
The Thunder shot an impressive 66.7 percent (18-of-27) from the field in the first half and was five-of-six (83.3 percent) from three-point range.
In the second half, Spalding (3-7) would get no closer than 17 points as Trine eventually expanded its lead back out to over 20 points and later reached the 30-point plateau for the first time in the game with 5:23 remaining thanks to a jumper by freshman Trey Helinski (Adrian, Mich./Lenawee Christian) to make it a 78-48 contest.
Trine ended the game with 12 consecutive points that included a triple by Helinski to cap the scoring with a little over a minute to go as the Thunder cruised to the 93-55 final.
Trine finished the game shooting 55.6 percent (35-of-63) from the field and was nine-of-13 (69.2 percent) from long range in addition to shooting 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) at the free-throw line. The Thunder also won the rebounding battle, 40-24.
Copeland scored his 23 points on eight-of-12 shooting (66.7 percent), including going seven-of-10 (70.0 percent) at the charity stripe. Senior Pete Smith (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) scored all of his points from behind the arc and ended the game with six triples for 18 points. He also had four assists and three steals.
Helinski rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points with three of his four made shots coming from long range.
As a team, Trine tallied 18 assists with a team-high five helpers coming from junior Langston Johnson (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central).
Trine will wrap-up the two-day St. Andrews Products Classic tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 22) with a matchup against Heidelberg (Ohio) University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the MTI Center.
