The Hope men's basketball team dropped the title game of its Holland Sentinel /Russ DeVette Tournament to third-ranked Illinois Wesleyan 91-83 on Saturday.
Sophomore guard Ben Gardner of Carmel, Ind. (Carmel HS), matched his season-high with 21 points for Hope (3-5).
Gardner made the all-tournament team along with sophomore guard Alex Eidson of Grand Haven (Grand Haven HS), who chipped a season-high 18 points.
The Titans were the fourth NCAA Division III ranked team the Flying Dutchmen have played this season.
"We're not happy with losing a game," Hope coach Matt Neil said, "but we're so much better than we were yesterday. We're better than we were last week.
"This (tough schedule) is going to really help us when we go down to Thomas More (Ky., on Dec. 30-31). We play two very good teams down there, then Edgewood (Wis. on Jan. 4 at DeVos Fieldhouse). Then we start league play. I really believe this (schedule) is getting us ready or what's going to come."
Senior forward Caleb Byers of Allegan (Allegan HS) added 16 points off the bench for Hope (3-5 overall).
Byers said he is seeing progress since the Flying Dutchmen opened the season with two games against ranked teams.
"I think we're starting to play together a lot more," Byers said. "We're making the extra pass, pass up a good shot for a great shot. We're playing better together on defense. We're getting there."
Illinois Wesleyan (9-1) outscored Hope 46-38 during the second half.
Tournament MVP Andrew Ziemnik scored 21 points and collected a game-high 11 rebounds to lead Illinois Wesleyan.
Andrew Davis, one of five Illinois Wesleyan players to score in double figures with 14 points, also made the all-tournament team.
In the consolation game, Wilmington, Ohio, defeated Lake Forest, Ill., 83-60.
All-tournament selection Malcolm Heard II of Wilmington (5-4) led all scorers with 24 points. The Quakers outscored Lake Forest (3-7) by a 45-30 margin during the second half.
Lake Forest received a team-high 14 points off the bench from all-tournament selection Brian Madson.