The Hope College men's basketball team slipped into a fourth-place tie in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association standings after a 73-69 loss to Trine University on Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Center Preston Granger of Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Christian HS) and guard Riley Lewis of Williamston, Michigan (Williamston) scored 18 points apiece to lead the Flying Dutchmen.

Hope dropped to 11-8 overall and 4-4 in MIAA play. The Flying Dutchmen share fourth place with Calvin College.

"I told the guys i'm really proud of the energy, how hard they competed," head coach Greg mitchell said. "We did a heck of a job on the glass. We really battled. Two areas, two areas of struggle, were the reasons we didn't win. We turned it over way too many times. Nineteen turnovers is too many in a big game. We lost our offensive rhythm. The ball wasn't humming. We weren't cutting like we needed to."

Hope outrebounded Trine by a 41-33 margin but were credited with a season-low five assists.

A game-turning stretch late in the second half saw the Flying Dutchmen go scoreless on five consecutive possessions. Trine extend its lead to 70-61 with 3:31 remaining as Hope missed jumper, committed three turnovers in a row and miss a 3-pointer.

The Flying Dutchmen clawed back with the next six points, but missed a score-tying, 3-point attempt with eight second remaining.

Lewis made six of Hope's seven 3-pointers.

Forward Denns Towns of Flint, Michigan (Powers Catholic) posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Guard Jason Beckman of Shelby, Michigan (Shelby) added 12 points.

Hope's next game is Wednesday, January 30 at Kalamazoo College. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.