ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's basketball team moved up four spots in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 poll to number seven, their highest rank in the 2023-24 season thus far. It is also the third time in the last four seasons that Trine has seen time inside the top-10.
Hampden-Sydney College has solidified their spot atop the national poll with 23 of 25 possible first-place votes. Trinity College in Connecticut is one of two undefeated teams remaining in NCAA DIII and accumulated the final two first-place votes to secure the fifth spot in the rankings. Losses this week from Guilford College, Trinity University in Texas, New York University, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater allowed the Thunder to move up.
Trine was able to win a pair of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) games last week, including an 83-71 victory at Alma College and a triumph 76-54 against Albion College. Junior guard Aidan Smylie was a major contributor in both with a double-double against the Scots (16 points, 11 rebounds) as well as a team-high 18 points over the Britons.
Despite missing a handful of games in the 2023-24 season, senior forward Emmanuel Megnanglo is ranked fifth in NCAA DIII in blocked shots with 40. He added eight last week, including five against Albion. The team's 5.1 blocks per game is good for 23rd in the nation. The defense inside is also recognized with quality field goal percentage defense. The Thunder are holding opponents to 40.8% from the field.
Trine returns home to face Adrian College in their next contest on Wednesday, January 17 beginning at 7:30 p.m. From there, the Thunder are on the road against Hope College, who is receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25, on Saturday, January 20 at 3 p.m.