Story by Mitch Blankespoor

WHEATON, IL – The Calvin College men's basketball team faced off against Carthage College (WI) in the second day of the CCIW/MIAA Challenge.  Calvin fell to Carthage 74-63 at Wheaton's King Arena.  Calvin drops to 6-2 on the season.

The Red Men got off to a good start.  Carthage's hi-low game worked flawlessly in the first ten minutes.  Sophomore forward Luke Johnson (Naperville, IL/Wheaton Academy) assisted on four Mitchell Thompson (Orland Park, IL/Sandburg) layups giving Carthage a 24-14 lead ten minutes into the contest.

With the Knights still trailing 27-20 at the 5:35 mark of the first half, sophomore Jordan Brink (Dyer, IN/Illiana Christian) came back onto the floor and took over.  Brink hit two tough jumpers, one from the baseline and the other from the elbow, to cut the Red Men's lead to three.  Brink scored eight of Calvin's final ten points of the half.  Calvin trailed 34-30 at the break.

"We came out lethargic in the first half," said Calvin head coach Kevin Vande Streek after the game.  "You can't do that against a good team and expect to win."

The Knights wasted no time cutting into the Carthage lead.  A tip in from sophomore forward Tyler Dykstra (Holland/Holland Christian) and two free throws from junior center Tyler Kruis (Grandville/Calvin Christian) gave Calvin a 39-38 lead, its first since the 16:04 mark in the first half. 

In the next ten minutes, Calvin would extend its lead to as many as six points.  Three three pointers from Carthage junior Kevin Sykes Jr. (Tinley Park, IL/Frankfort-Lincoln-Way North) kept the Red Men within striking distance. 

And strike is exactly what Carthage did.  The Red Men ended the game on an 18-3 run.  Senior forward Tyler Pierce (Westmont, IL/Westmont HS) scored 11 of his game-high 23 during this run.  Thompson chipped in 15 points, 13 of which came in the first half.  Johnson scored 12 points for the victorious Red Men.

Kruis led the Knights with 18 points and nine rebounds.  Brink had 13 points.  Dykstra and senior forward Tom Snikkers (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) had seven points each.

"We played well for a stretch in the second half," said Vande Streek.  "I guess I have to do a better job of motivating our guys to play with high intensity for the entire game."

Calvin will travel to the Upper Peninsula on December 8 to face Finlandia for an in-region game.  Finlandia is coached by former Alma head coach Terry Smith.