Hope men 'looking for answers' after scoring season low in loss to Trine
HOLLAND - With all five starters from the season opener finally together again, the Hope College men's basketball team was looking for a return to its best output.
Instead, it was the worst offensive performance of the season as the Flying Dutchmen continued to struggle offensively and once again dug themselves in an early hole that they could not get out of in a 56-43 loss to Trine on Wednesday at DeVos Fieldhouse.
The point total was the lowest of the season, even lower than the abysmal offensive showing in an 81-49 loss to Calvin.
"We became that team expecting things to turn, instead of digging deeper. That is unacceptable," Hope coach Greg Mitchell said. "It has been a script here in this building. You have to fight your way out of struggle. That is where we have to show more grit and toughness. Today, it was like, 'Here we go again.' We are searching for answers."
It was also a completely different matchup than the first game against Trine, an 89-84 double-overtime Trine win on Jan. 4.
Hope dropped to 13-9 and 7-4 in the MIAA. Trine improved to 20-2 and 10-1 in the MIAA.
Subscribe:Get complete local sports coverage with this special offer
All-American Evan Thomas returned after missing the last game with an injury. But he didn't look like thedefending MIAA MVP, though he started with Eli Schoonveld, Tanner Wiegerink, Clayton Dykhouse and Gabe Quillan for the first time in months. Thomas played just 19 minutes and went scoreless.
"Evan wasn't Evan, and we knew that," Mitchell said.
The first few possessions of the game, the Hope offense looked good, with good ball movement and cuts leading to easy baskets underneath.
Hope shot just 33% from the field and was even worse from 3-point range, going 2-for-16 (12.5%).
Sometimes Hope has been able to make up for poor shooting by getting to the free-throw line, but the Flying Dutchmen were just 9-for-18.
"Coach Mitchell does a great job of teaching them to fake with the ball, so we focused on defending without fouling, which we did very well until the last few minutes," Trine coach Brooks Miller said. "The game plan was get the ball stopped and take away the 3."
The first half was a slow, defensive battle and Trine led 25-21 at halftime.
Then the Thunder erupted.
Hope pulled within two points early in the second half, but the Thunder made a couple of 3s, part of a 9-0 run, and led 36-25 with 14:10 to go in the second half. The 9-0 run turned into a 15-2 run as Hope struggled to shoot and also found itself in foul trouble with its post players.
Quillan picked up a third, then a fourth foul during the run, while Wiegerink got a third.
Meanwhile Hope didn't hit a single 3 in the second half.
"We kind of felt that dip (when the momentum changed). We didn't respond with the toughness and grit you have to respond with in situations like that," Mitchell said.
The Flying Dutchmen never recovered, though played pretty well defensively besides the definitive run.
"Defensively to hold Trine in the 50s is what you have to do. Our defensive engagement was there, and in the first half, it was outstanding," Mitchell said.
Quillan finished with 15 points and Dykhouse had 13.
Brent Cox led Trine with 19.
"We have all five guys trying to stop the ball. We had to come out and be physical. They out-fought us at our place. We had to get the ball going side-to-side. It is always tough coming here," Miller said. "In the MIAA, the only thing that matters is this (current) game. If you want to win an MIAA title it is all about this game."
Hope is out of the regular-season race and will now have to win the MIAA Tournament to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament.
But the Flying Dutchmen will have to find that toughness first.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hope men's basketball 'looking for answers' after scoring season low
