ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's basketball team worked to earn a key Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) win over Hope College on Wednesday night 82-75 where the Thunder shot at a 59.6% (28-for-47) clip from the field overall. That value marks the tenth-highest field goal percentage in a game in program history and second-best this season (63.5% versus Concordia Chicago).
The Thunder (15-7, 8-3 MIAA) remain in third-place in the league standings, but now the top four teams in the conference are separated by just one game. The Flying Dutch (15-6, 8-2 MIAA) go from first to second in the table with a loss and Calvin University is in sole possession of first-place with a 9-2 MIAA record.
Trine found themselves in a 10-point hole at halftime, but dug their way out of it with a 55-point second half on an incredible 17-of-25 (68.0%) from the field.
"We didn't get enough post touches," Head coach Brooks Miller stated postgame. "We tried a few different lineups and obviously those weren't as effective, they did a really good job of being physical against us in the first half. We shot a high percentage by pounding it inside. That was the gameplan all along, we just didn't get many post touches early on. We needed to get post touches to guys like Mitchell Geller [Huntington, Ind. / Huntington North] and Emmanuel Megnanglo [Cotonou, Benin / Amelia Academy]. Back to work again tomorrow!"
Geller continued by saying, "Once we got the ball inside in the second half, they were forced to foul, double team or get scored on. It really opens up play when we can get it inside, especially for our guards to step out and get basket cuts and lay-ups. We're a really tough team to guard when everyone is working together."
It took nearly five minutes for the Thunder to score the basketball via a Megnanglo lay-up, but the Trine defense limited Hope to just four points before the first home score. The Flying Dutch took a 9-2 lead before the offense started clicking. Bryce Williams [Archbold, Ohio / Archbold] connected on a three and a Connor Jones [Danville, Ind. / Danville] steal a few possessions later led to another shot by Williams from long range to tie the game at 11 through eight minutes.
Trine was able to take their first lead of the game at 17-16 on a Hayden Jones [Kendallville, Ind. / East Noble] assisted by Aiden Warzecha [Milford, Mich. / Milford]. Geller added on with a dunk in the half court to complete a six-point run for the Thunder. Hope answered that with seven in a row, but Nick Bowman [Angola, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern] knocked down a pair of wing three-point shots to keep the game within reach at 29-27 with five minutes to go in the first.
The final eight points of the period belonged to the Flying Dutch as they took their largest lead of the half at 37-27. Hope would lay claim to a 12-point lead, the largest of the game for either squad, with the first basket in the second half. Warzecha completed an and-one inside to jump start the Trine offense in half number two.
Bowman made a jump shot that led to eight consecutive points, with Geller hitting four shots from the charity stripe during the run. With the offense running through the painted area early for the Thunder, Williams was left open for three on back-to-back possessions and he made the Flying Dutch pay on both to cut it to 46-44 Hope seven minutes in. Bowman completed the comeback at 48 all with a made lay-up at the 11:30 mark.
The teams traded opportunities at the free throw line in the middle stages of the half, with each team seeing key players in foul trouble. Geller finished a lay-up inside for an and-one to take a 59-58 edge with just over six minutes left to play.
The final lead change of the contest came with five minutes left. Geller made a lay-up and converted his second dunk of the game on consecutive possessions as Trine hopped out to a 67-63 advantage. A Warzecha three would be the biggest swing in momentum as the Thunder worked to bury the league's former top team. Geller and Bowman knocked down six free throws down the stretch as Trine took an 82-72 lead and went on to win 82-75 when the final buzzer sounded.
Geller and Bowman shared the scoring lead at 20 points apiece, and all five starters reached double figures. Williams contributed with 15 points on four three-point field goals, as well as Warzecha with 12 and Connor Jones at 11. Geller also brought down a team-high eight rebounds.
The road does not get any easier for Trine as they play host to the new leader in the MIAA standings Calvin University on Saturday, February 12 at 3 pm for Senior Day and Community Day. It is a part of a men's and women's doubleheader with the women first at 1 pm.
