The toll of playing four games in six days became an exhausting price for the Hope College men's basketball team to pay on Wednesday. The Flying Dutchmen fell decisively to Trine University Thunder, 91-52, in Angola, Indiana. 

The loss drops Hope to 2-2. The win keeps No.6-ranked Trine undefeated, 8-0.

Though playing against a league opponent, the Flying Dutchmen will not have the loss count against them in the MIAA regular-season standings. A single round of seven games on the schedule beginning Tuesday, Feb. 9 will determine the MIAA champion.

Coming off two wins against Calvin University and Albion College in under 54 hours, Hope arrived at Trine with good momentum. But a tough Thunder defensive effort caused too many Flying Dutchmen turnovers and an insurmountable condition for Hope to overcome. 

For the game, the Flying Dutchmen turned the ball over 27 times, resulting in 40 points for the Thunder. Conversely, Trine committed only six turnovers, giving Hope just two points off of turnovers.

And though Hope outrebounded Trine, 33-27, the Thunder not only shot better, but they put up 20 more shots than the Flying Dutchmen. Hope shot 42.9% (18 of 42) while Trine was good on 58.1% its shots (36 of 62).

The Thunder also had 28 more points in the paint than Hope.

The Flying Dutchmen were led by sophomore Evan Thomas of Okemos (Okemos HS) with 12 points. Senior Preston Granger of Lansing (Lansing Christian HS) added nine.

Senior Ryan Gamm of Rockford (Rockford HS) was Hope's top rebounder with eight. Granger grabbed the second-most rebounds with six.

The Flying Dutchmen play next on Saturday, February 6 at DeVos Fieldhouse versus Kalamazoo College. Tipoff is at 3 p.m.