HOLLAND, Mich. – The Trine University men's basketball team took over in the second half to nab a win 85-70 over Hope College on the road Saturday afternoon. The Thunder shot 60.4% (32-of-53) for the game and won the second half 40-26 to move to 16-1 overall and 6-0 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. The Flying Dutch fall to 12-5 on the season and 4-2 inside the MIAA.
The team was led by three individual scorers with 20 or more points. Cortez Garland finished with a game-high 25 points while Nate Tucker recorded a career-best 20-point day and Fred Garland netted 20 points in total. Brent Cox brought in 11 rebounds to pace the squad. The Trine defense was stingy the whole night by holding Hope to 38.3% (23-of-60) from the field.
The trio of scorers were a combined 27-for-35 from the field, including Tucker at 9-of-10 from the floor. Fred Garland shot 8-for-11 and made both attempts from deep and Cortez Garland was 8-for-14.
The nationally-ranked Thunder were able to win the first five minutes of the game, 13-6. Emmanuel Megnanglo capped the scoring run with a made jump shot, but the Garland brothers combined for 10 points during that stretch. The Flying Dutch would draw back to even at 16 all, and eventually took the lead at 30-24 to force a Time timeout at 7:55 to go in the period.
Tucker would provide a scoring spark off the bench, but Hope increased their lead to 38-28 with a make from three to force another timeout by Head Coach Brooks Miller. This one would be effective in turning the momentum of the entire game. The next eight possessions resulted in points for Trine as they entered halftime with a one-point advantage, 45-44.
Fred Garland would keep the run going for the Thunder and the Flying Dutch called for time down 55-48 with 15:34 to play. Aidan Smylie recorded a steal and a dunk the other way to claim a double-digit lead at 59-48 and at the halfway point of the second, Trine was up 66-53.
An and-one by Cortez Garland with just over four minutes remaining helped put the finishing touches on a convincing road victory inside the DeVos Fieldhouse. Drew Moore would come alive late in the game with crucial buckets to dash the hopes of the Flying Dutch, 85-70.
Despite losing the turnover battle 22-17, the Thunder crashed the offensive glass effectively for a 37-26 win on rebounding. Trine won the battle in the paint 46-24.
Up next, two top-10 teams will clash in #7 Trine versus #4 Calvin University on Wednesday, January 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.