Last fall, TJ McKenzie Jr. helped the Hope College football team win a share of its 22nd MIAA championship as a starting receiver.
This winter, the junior from North Muskegon, Michigan (North Muskegon HS) is assisting the men's basketball team's bid for a 41st league title.
McKenzie Jr. sparked the Flying Dutchmen to an 89-63 victory against Alma College on Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse that kept them tied atop the MIAA standings.
The forward came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points. McKenzie Jr. netted nine alone during the first half that allowed Hope to overcome an early 6-0 deficit and charge to a 44-21 halftime lead.
"We needed it," head coach Greg Mitchell said of McKenzie Jr.'s performance against an opponent coming off its first league win against preseason favorite Trine University and winners of its past two visits to DeVos Fieldhouse.
"It was a critical part of the game where they're still comfortable and we're still trying to find our way. TJ was imposing his will on some possessions, which was great. We see it practice often."
McKenzie Jr. stepped onto the court 3 minutes, 47 seconds into the game and the score tied at 6-6. He buried his first three jumpers, propelling the Flying Dutchmen to an 18-12 lead over the next five minutes.
After two misses, McKenzie Jr. sank a 3-pointer from the wing that started an 11-0 run to propel Hope to a 29-15 lead with 7:13 remaining in the half.
"It took him a little to get his hoop legs (after football)," Mitchell said. "He likes the lights and the big stage. We like it because he's making us better."
Hope improved to 12-5 overall and 5-1 in MIAA play. The Flying Dutchmen are tied for first with Albion College in the MIAA — two games ahead of third-place Calvin University.
Junior Evan Thomas (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos) topped Hope with 18 points and nine rebounds. The Flying Dutchmen's leading scorer has reached double-digit points in 10 consecutive games.
Thomas had a string of 36 consecutive made free throws snapped when he split a trip to the line in the second half.
Hope shot a season-best 55.4 percent from the field (36-65).
Four Flying Dutchmen chipped in eight points apiece, including three starters: senior Jeff Bikus (Hawthorn Hills, Illinois / Mundelein), junior Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East), and sophomore Tanner Wiegerink (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa),
Junior Brady Swinehart (Ionia, Michigan / Ionia) netted a career-high eight points off the bench.
Alma (2-13, 1-5 MIAA) shot 36.2 percent from the field (21-58). The Scots' 21 first-half points were the fewest allowed in a half by the Flying Dutchmen this season.
Xavier Bargesser's 13 points led Alma.