Fueled by a strong start, the Hope College men's basketball team defeated eighth-ranked Albion College, 84-79, on Monday.

The Flying Dutchmen improved to 2-1 overall with their second consecutive road victory against an MIAA opponent.

Albion (2-1) topped the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and is the defending league champion. The game does not count toward the MIAA standings. A single round of league competition, beginning Tuesday, February 9, will determine the regular-season champion.

The Flying Dutchmen are opening the season with four games in six days. Their next game is at sixth-ranked Trine University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

"We knew it was going to be a dogfight, always is at Kresge," head coach Greg Mitchell said. "Gritty, gritty effort. So proud of our guys. I just felt we executed really well, were plus-two in rebounding. Twenty-one assists on 29 baskets, that's pretty good basketball."

Hope, which was coming off a 79-77 win at Calvin University on Saturday, never trailed after opening the game on an 8-0 run.

Forward Evan Thomas (Okemos, Michigan/Okemos HS) and center Preston Granger (Lansing, Michigan/Lansing Christian) shared team-high scoring honors for the Flying Dutchmen with 24 points apiece.

Thomas equaled his career-high in scoring.

Guard Tyler George (Ada, Michigan/Forest Hills Central) chipped in a season-high 20 points at his father's alma mater, Hope assistant coach Ken George.

At Albion, Hope jumped to an 8-0 lead and never trailed.

In the first half, Albion whittled the lead down to 18-17 with 9:56 remaining before the Flying Dutchmen responded with a 10-0 run over the next 3 1/2 minutes. Hope led 45-33 at halftime.

In the second half, Albion chopped a 14-point deficit to 70-69 with 3:40 remaining. The Britons missed the front end of a one-on-one, then Thomas recorded a three-point play and buried a 3-pointer over the next two minutes for a 76-69 lead.

Thomas delivered 17 second-half points, including a 5-of-7 effort from the foul line.

Granger scored 12 points in each half. He missed only one field-goal attempt during the second half (6-7) before fouling out.

George went 4-of-4 from 3-point range during the first half en route to 14 points.