A come-from-behind win against a pesky opponent capped a special day for the Hope College men's basketball program.
The ninth-ranked Flying Dutchmen rallied to defeat Kalamazoo 86-78 Saturday in front of a season-high DeVos Fieldhouse crowd of 3,206.
Dozens of players and head coach Glenn Van Wieren from the successful 1980s decade were honored at halftime. Hope won 178 of 224 games and earned seven Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships during that 10-year stretch.
"It was awesome to have a bunch of guys from the 80s sacrifice their time, energy and resources to get here and helps us celebrate Hope basketball," said Hope head coach Greg Mitchell, who played for the Flying Dutchmen before graduating in 1989.
Hope overcame a 12-point deficit midway through the first half to claim its 15th win in 17 tries this season. The Flying Dutchmen raised their MIAA record to 5-1 and kept one game behind first-place Alma, a 75-64 winner over visiting Albion on Saturday night.
Hope outscored Kalamazoo 43-32 during the second half.
Senior guard Ben Gardner of Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS) scored a game-high 22 points for the Flying Dutchmen.
Junior forward Harrison Blackledge of Canton, Ohio (Hoover HS) totaled 17 of his 19 points during the second half. Blackledge made 10 of his 12 free throws attempts.
The Flying Dutchmen finished with a season-high 37 free throws made and 44 fouls attempts.
Hope outscored Kalamazoo 37-16 from the foul line. The Hornets fell to 1-16 overall and 0-6 in MIAA play.
Junior center Keith Brushwyler of St. Joseph, Michigan (Stevensville-Lakeshore HS) recorded a career-high 11 points off the bench.