ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University men's basketball team held their own against the fifth ranked North Central College, but the Thunder offense couldn't get going midway through the second half as they fell 64-47 in their home-opener.  The game was picked as the NCAA Division III Game of the Week as voted on by fans on the Division III facebook page.

Trine (3-2) got the scoring going first as freshman Nick Tatu (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) drained a three to start the game. Both defenses would clamp down though as scored just a combined 25 points through the first 10 minutes of the game. Trine held the lead early until the Cardinals hit a three at 13:51 to take the lead they would never relinquish. Trine would be down just one with 2:44 to go in the first but North Central would score the final six points to take a 28-21 lead at the break.

North Central would open the half by pushing their lead to double-digits at 32-21 off a pair of baskets. The Thunder would quickly rally though as they scored 12 points in four minutes to pull within two at 35-33. That would be as close as they would get though as the offense was shutout over a 5 minute period as the Cardinals pushed their lead to 17 and never looked back.

Senior Ian Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) led all players with 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Jackson also made a game-high four steals. Fellow senior Scott Rogers (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) added in seven points and a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Dustin Hall (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) led the Thunder with three assists.

Aaron Tiknis led North Centrals with a double-double, 18 points and 11 rebounds. Landon Gamble also had a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards while Derek Raridon also added in 10 points.

As a team Trine was nearly perfect from the charity stripe hitting 13-of-14, but struggled from behind-the-arc making just 2-of-16. The Cardinals hit 57.8 percent (26-for-45) from the floor for the game while the Thunder made 16-of-55 (29.1%). The Thunder defense held the Cardinals to their second fewest points on the season.

Trine will next take on Wabash at home on December 4 for a non-conference game at 7:30 p.m.