Jan 26, 2013
By Mitch Blankespoor
ADRIAN, MI – The Calvin College men's basketball team traveled to the Merillat Center on the campus of Adrian College in search of something it had not achieved since the 2009-10 season; a win. Calvin senior Bryan Powell (Wyoming/Wyoming Park) hit the game-winning three pointer with 3.8 seconds left to propel the Knights to a 50-47 victory.
ADRIAN, MI – The Calvin College men's basketball team traveled to the Merillat Center on the campus of Adrian College in search of something it had not achieved since the 2009-10 season; a win. Calvin senior Bryan Powell (Wyoming/Wyoming Park) hit the game-winning three pointer with 3.8 seconds left to propel the Knights to a 50-47 victory.
The game began as a defensive battle, just as Adrian head coach Mark White prefers. Coming into the night, Adrian had held all but four of its opponents to under 60 points. Adrian sophomore Eric Lewis (Detroit) opened up the scoring with a layup in transition.
Calvin would tie the game with a pair of free throws from senior Tom Snikkers (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) at the 15:29 mark of the first half.
The Knights took their first lead of the game on another pair of Snikkers' free throws three minutes later.
Adrian senior Cody Barnes (Romulus/Romulus HS) would prove to be Adrian's answer. Barnes hit two consecutive field goals, and Adrian led 9-8 with 10:21 remaining in the first half.
Calvin responded with a 9-2 run over the next 4:03 to take a 17-11 lead.
Once again, Barnes responded. Adrian scored on its final five possessions of the first half, with Barnes being the scorer on four of the five. Calvin could muster only a three pointer from sophomore Jordan Brink (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian), and went into halftime trailing 25-20.
Barnes led everyone at halftime with 15 points on 6-10 shooting from the field. Lewis had six points at the break.
Snikkers led the Knights with six points and three rebounds. Calvin shot just 29.2 percent (7-24) from the field in the first half. Senior point guard David Rietema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian)was held scoreless, but grabbed six rebounds.
"We played some pretty poor offense in the first half," Calvin head coach Kevin Vande Streek said in a postgame interview. "Give some credit to the Adrian defense. They take defense very seriously."
Adrian continued its run at the end of the first half by scoring the first two buckets of the second half. The Bulldogs led 29-20 with 18:25 to play.
Calvin began to chip away at the deficit. Sophomore forward Tyler Dykstra (Holland/Holland Christian) cut baseline and dunked a minute later.
The Knights, fueled by the dunk, cut the Bulldog lead to four points after a layup from Snikkers. A three pointer from Brink with 13:08 to play gave Calvin a 36-35 lead.
Calvin built up its lead to seven points on acrobatic layups from Rietema and junior Mickey De Vries (Lansing/Lansing Christian). The Knights led 47-40 with five minutes to play.
Adrian would not go away. A left-handed hook shot from sophomore Adam Meier (Kalamazoo/Plainwell) put Adrian within two points with 1:24 to play. After a Rietema missed a three pointer, Barnes hit two free throws to tie the game at 47 with 24 seconds remaining in regulation.
Calvin held for the final shot. Powell created the smallest of spaces driving to his right, and nailed a shot from a foot beyond the three point arc.
After a timeout from White, Adrian's final shot was blocked from behind. The Knights had escaped the Merillat Center with a 50-47 victory.
Powell and Snikkers finished with 13 and 10 points respectively.
"We wanted to get more of a drive and kick look at the end," Vande Streek said. "Bryan [Powell] created just enough space."
Barnes finished with a game-high 22 points for the Bulldogs in defeat.
Calvin (17-2, 8-0 MIAA) outrebounded Adrian (15-4, 4-4 MIAA) 36-31 including 13 offensive rebounds.
"We talked before the game about being tough from the start," said Vande Streek. "It's really difficult to rebound against Adrian, and I thought we did a great job of that tonight.
Calvin will return to action Wed., Jan. 30, at Van Noord Arena against the Britons of Albion College. The game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.