The Hope College men's basketball team relishes every trip to the free-throw line it earns.
One of the nation's top teams at the charity stripe used another stellar performance to tame the Tigers of Wittenberg University (Ohio) on the road on Friday. The Flying Dutchmen won, 76-65, behind a second consecutive 87.5-percent performance at the foul line.
Hope went 21-of-24 at the charity stripe, including a 10-of-11 effort during the second half. The Flying Dutchmen came into the game tied for third in NCAA Division III in free-throw percentage at 79.5 and upped their season average to 80.9.
Head coach Greg Mitchell called his team's elite foul shooting a big asset. Hope outscored Wittenberg by a 21-7 margin at the free-throw line.
"It expands your margin of error when you're making your free throws," Mitchell said. "MIss free throws are turnovers. Making them is winning a possession. It's a credit to our guys and their concentration."
Friday's effort — the first of two non-league games in 21 hours for Hope — helped the Flying Dutchmen improve to 6-2 overall.
Hope's next game is Saturday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. at Manchester University (Indiana). Manchester is on a four-game winning streak and 4-4 overall.
At Wittenberg, center Gabe Quillan sank a team-best nine free throws in 11 attempts. The sophomore from Ada, Michigan (Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) finished with a double that included a game-high 23 points and a career-high 13 points.
Senior guard Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) sank all six attempts at the charity stripe and totaled 16 points.
Senior forward TJ McKenzie Jr. (North Muskegon, Michigan / North Muskegon) did not get to the line but still ended up with 13 points along with seven rebounds.
Wittenberg guard Jerry Saunders Jr. topped the Tigers (4-4) with 19 points off the bench.
The Flying Dutchmen overcame a slow start that led to an early 12-point deficit. Hope made only two of its first 14 field-goal attempts before rebounding to close the final eights minutes of first half on a 19-5 run.
Sophomore forward Ben Wager (Harbor Springs, Michigan / Petoskey) came off the bench to give the Flying Dutchmen their first lead of the game with a three-point play 57 seconds before halftime.
Hope also received assistance off the bench from freshman guard Justice Mims (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Adams), who netted a career-high seven points.
"Ben had a big three-point play. Justice gave us great energy. Ethan Crabtree had a really nice assist to Devin Cheaney. When you're playing without guys, you have to have other guys pick up those minutes," Mitchell said. "It doesn't need to be a home run. Hit some singles. Those plays collectively made a big difference. We had great contributions by a lot of guys.
"It's just a good road win."