By Sports Information Student Assistant Andrew Knot
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin improved its conference record to 4-2 with a 74-68 victory over Trine on Saturday.
The game opened slowly, with only eight total points in the opening four minutes. Calvin (9-8 overall) also turned the ball over three times by the sixteen minute mark.
The Knights and Thunder remained neck and neck throughout the first portion of the half. Trine sophomore Neil Smith knocked down a three at 12:36 to give the Thunder a two point advantage, but Calvin freshman Jordan Brink responded with a three of his own to give the Knights a slim lead.
Shortly after that, freshman Tyler Kruis tied the game at 14 with another lay-up. From there, Calvin would go on a 29-9 run to end the half on top 31-22.
But Trine came out of halftime strong. Sophomore Ian Jackson scored six points in the opening four minutes to cut the deficit to two. That's when sophomore Ty Graham banked in a floater to tie the game at 37.
Trine would advance the lead to three points off a Scott Rogers lay-up. Senior Danny Rodts came up big for Calvin though, with a clutch three-pointer to tie the game with 13 minutes remaining. Rodts then assisted fellow senior Trent Salo on a triple to put the Knights on top by three.
Senior Brent Schuster poured in four consecutive points and sophomore Bryan Powell hit a big three to increase Calvin's lead to seven points.
"We didn't start the second half well, but we recovered when the game got tight," said Coach Kevin Vande Sreek.
Calvin owned the lead from that point on. Trine would cut the margin to four points late in the game but the Knights connected on late free-throws, sealing the victory.
Vande Streek was pleased with the team defensive effort, holding the MIAA's best scoring offense to 68 points.
"Our length was effective. We're starting to catch on defensively," he commented.
Calvin was led in scoring by Rodts with 19 points while Brink had 12 and Tom Snikkers 10. Ian Jackson led Trine with 22 points.
The Knights host Albion on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Van Noord Arena.