ANGOLA, Ind. - It turned out to be a big win for the Trine University men's basketball team as they took down Olivet 74-49. The Thunder are now 14-9 on the season and 7-5 in the MIAA. With the win, Trine moves into a tie for second place in the conference as both Calvin and Adrian lost. The win also secures the Thunder of their first winning record since the 2006-07 season.

A fast start by the Thunder gave them a 10 point lead just seven minutes into the game as Trine jumped out to a 15-5 lead. The Comets would cut the lead to seven, but the Thunder refused to allow them back in the game as they scored six unanswered points as they began to pull away. Trine built a 16 point lead at 41-25 going into the locker room.

The Thunder again started the half off fast as they quickly built to a 23 point lead as they out-scored the Comets 11-4 over the first six minutes of play. From there, the Trine defense held Olivet to just three points as the Thunder pushed their lead to 27 points with just over 10 minutes to go in the game. Olivet was never able to get into a groove as the Thunder responded each time the Comets would score.

For Trine, 10 different players scored, led by senior Tim Pearcy (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) who netted a game-high 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Pearcy, along with junior Scott Rogers (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) and freshman Tyler Good (Swanton, Ohio/Evergreen) each had a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Chris Kent (Angola, Ind./Angola) hit 5-of-8 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line to finish with 16 points while picking up four rebounds and three assists.

Junior Ian Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) added in 12 points and three assists. Freshman Braden Knight (Bedford, Ind./Bedford North Lawrence) came up big for the Thunder on defense making a game-high four steals while scoring eight points and pulling down five boards. Fellow freshman Dustin Hall (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) led Trine with a game-high four assists.

The Trine defense held the reigning MIAA Player of the Week Alvino Ashley to just nine points on 3-of-8 shooting, scoring just two points in the second half.

Trine shot lights-out in the first half hitting 54 percent from the floor, 57 percent from behind the arc and 79 percent from the charity stripe. For the game, the Thunder shot near 50 percent (26-of-53) from the floor compared to just 33 percent (18-of-54) for the Comets. Trine committed 11 turnovers, compared to 12 for Olivet, but the Thunder were able to convert them into 15 points, while Olivet scored just four.

Trine will look to avenge an earlier loss as they host Calvin for Senior Night on February 15 at 8:00 p.m.