Story by Mitch Blankespoor

ANGOLA, IN – The Calvin men's basketball team faced off against the Trine Thunder looking to avenge a 73-54 loss last season.  After a slow start, the Knights came back and defeated Trine 56-43 to improve to 15-2, 6-0 MIAA on the season. 

A slow start it was.  Trine scored the first nine points of the game.  Calvin did not score a single point until the 13:20 mark with a free throw from sophomore Dan Stout (Escondido, Cal./Calvin Christian).

Calvin scored its first field goal with ten minutes to go in the first half.  Junior center Tyler Kruis (Grandville/Calvin Christian) found a cutting Tyler Dykstra (Holland/Holland Christian) who dunked.  This seemed to fire up the Knights.

Three pointers from senior Bryan Powell (Wyoming/Wyoming Park) and Mitch Vallie (Goodrich/Goodrich HS) put Calvin within one.  Trine would extend its lead to five, but Calvin chipped away. The Knights ended up with the basketball for the final possession of the first half down by two.  Senior David Rietema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) found Kruis for a layup as time expired. 

Calvin, who had not led in the entire first half, was tied at 23 at halftime. 

Kruis led all scorers at halftime with eight points.  Calvin shot just 23.3 percent from the field and committed 11 turnovers. 

The Knights took their first lead, 36-34, with 10:24 remaining in regulation.  On the next possession, Trine tied the game up with a jumper from senior Scott Rodgers (Waterford/Kettering).

Calvin then went on a 14-3 run that all but put the game away.  Powell hit three triples, Snikkers hit one and Kruis added a pair of free throws.  Calvin led 50-40 with three minutes to play, and coasted to the victory.

"We were able to hold a great offensive team in Trine to just 43 points," Calvin head coach Kevin Vande Streek said after the game.  "That's a feat."

Powell and Kruis each tallied 16 points.  Powell hit four of eight three-point attempts, and Kruis was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. 

"Bryan [Powell] hit some huge shots down the stretch," said Vande Streek.

Rogers led the way for the Thunder in defeat with 14 points. 

Calvin shot just 32.1 percent from the field in the game, but hit 16 of 19 free throws.  The Knights held the rebound advantage 49-25. 

Calvin will travel to Olivet on Wednesday, Jan. 23, to face the Comets with a two-game lead in the MIAA.