A determined foe spoiled the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener for the Hope College men's basketball team.
Trine University took control in the first half and earned an 80-75 victory at DeVos Fieldhouse that snapped the Flying Dutchmen's two-game win streak.
Hope (6-6 overall) will look to rebound at Kalamazoo on Saturday.
Senior guard Dante Hawkins of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS) led three Flying Dutchmen in double figures with 19 points. He also recorded five assists.
Junior guard Jason Beckman of Shelby, Michigan (Shelby) chipped in 18 points.
Junior forward Teddy Ray of Fort Wayne, Indiana (Homestead) added 15 points and shared the team-high in rebounds with eight.
Hope could not overcome a 47-36 halftime deficit. The Thunder shot 63.6 percent from the field during the first half (21-33).
The Flying Dutchmen rallied to tie the score at 62-62 with 8:44 remaining on a Jason Beckman 3-pointer off an assist from his younger brother Danny Beckman, a freshman.
Trine, however, answered a 7-0 run to reclaim command.
The Thunder (5-7) finished shooting 55.7 percent from the field (34-61). They put three in double figures, led by a game-high 21 from guard Langston Johnston.