An aggressive Hope College men's basketball team paved the way for a record-setting performance on Tuesday.

The Flying Dutchmen won their MIAA opener against Olivet College, 99-81, behind DeVos Fieldhouse-record 30 made free throws and 41 free-throw attempts.

Hope (3-2 overall, 1-0 MIAA) took advantage of a pressing Olivet defense, charging past the Comets and getting fouled going to the basket.

"We just attacked out of their press. It allowed a lot of holes on the back-end. "That helped us get to the line a lot," sophomore forward Evan Thomas said. "Everyone was making the extra pass and we found the open look, and people were knocking them down."

Hope passed the previous DeVos Fieldhouse records of 29 free throws made, set on December 19, 2014, against Pittsburgh-Greensburg and 40 free throw attempts set on December 29, 2005, vs. John Carroll (Ohio).

Thomas (Okemos, Michigan/Okemos) led Hope's charitable effort with career-highs in free throws made (13) and attempted (17). He finished with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Four other Hope players joined Thomas in double figures.

Senior center Preston Granger (Lansing, Michigan/Lansing Christian) and junior guard Tyler George (Ada, Michigan/Forest Hills Central) scored 21 points apiece. George went 5-of-6 from the foul line, Granger 5-8.

Sophomore guard Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan/Zeeland East) and junior forward Jeff Bikus (Hawthorn Hills, Illinois/Mundelein) chipped in 10 points apiece.

Dykhouse also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and matched his career-high with six assists.

Hope shot 51.7 percent from the field with 21 assists on 30 made baskets.

The Flying Dutchmen never trailed after opening the game on a 12-2 run. They extended their lead to 51-27 by halftime.

"We had a great, great first half," head coach Greg Mitchell said. "Our execution at both ends of the floor was next-level."

The Flying Dutchmen limited Olivet (0-11, 0-1 MIAA) to 39.3 percent field-goal shooting (33-84). Forward Eddie Thigpen topped the Comets with 26 points.

The game was the first to count toward the MIAA standings. The league champion will be determined by a single round of competition over the next three weeks.

Hope's next game is at Adrian College on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m.

"We are obviously excited to be 1-0 in the league race," Mitchell said. "This is going to be a seven-game dogfight."