Guard Ben Gardner and the nationally ranked Hope College men's basketball team are ready for the new year and the pursuit of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship.

The Flying Dutchmen closed 2015 with an 86-66 win over Beloit, Wisconsin on Wednesday that earned a RDV Sportsplex D3 Classic championship.

Hope improved to 10-1 overall with its seventh win in a row. The Flying Dutchmen begin MIAA play on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at home against Albion. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Gardner earned Classic MVP honors after scoring a team-high 18 points, grabbing five rebounds and totaling three assists.

The senior from Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS) headlined a five-player all-tournament team that included two teammates: senior center Brock Benson of Willowbrook, Illinois (Hinsdale South HS) and junior forward Harrison Blackledge of Canton, Ohio (Hoover HS).

Beloit's Steve McAfee and Messiah's Micah Brown rounded out the all-tournament team.

Blackledge poured in 16 points off the bench, his second double-digit effort in as many days.

Senior guard Stephen Wittenbach of Ada, Michigan (Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central HS) netted eight points, including the last two on a two-handed, alley-oop slam from junior guard Mitchell O'Brien of Manteno, Illinois (Bishop McNamara HS).

Benson and sophomore guard Dante Hawkins of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS) each finished with seven points.

Thirteen different players scored for the Flying Dutchmen.

McAfee led all scorers with 20 points, but 16 of them came during the second half. 

Hope's defensive effort resulted in a 41-28 halftime lead. The Flying Dutchmen forced 20 turnovers.