A gritty Hope College men's basketball team propelled itself into the MIAA Tournament Championship game after defeating the No. 2 seeded Trine University, 67-56, iin the semifinals on Friday evening at Calvin University.

Behind two of its three All-MIAA selections, No. 3 seeded Hope (18-9) advanced to face the winner of the No. 1 seeded Calvin University and No. 4 seeded Olivet College in the championship game. 

Tipoff on Saturday, Feb. 25, is 7:30 p.m. at Van Noord Arena; tickets can be purchased in advance on the MIAA website. The winner of the championship claims the MIAA's automatic bid for the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

All-MIAA first-team honoree Evan Thomas scored a game-high 19 points 

The senior forward combined for 47 points with All-MIAA second-team sophomore Gabe Quillan junior Tanner Wiegerink against the Thunder (22-4).

Thomas, an Okemos, Michigan (Okemos HS) native, tallied his 20th double-double of the season with 19 points and game-high 11 rebounds. 

"ET is our guy, when he shows up big like he does, we're a better team," said head coach Greg Mitchell. 

The Flying Dutchmen battled against the Thunder during the first half, a back-and-forth game that saw 11 lead changes, before flying to a four-point lead behind the 3-pointer shot from freshman Marcus Wourman to put Hope up 40-36 with just seconds remaining in the first half. 

"I gotta give Marcus Wourman a lot of credit, he had four assists, and for a freshman in that environment was huge," Mitchell said. "Underclassmen look to guys who have done it before, and with Evan the healthiest he's been all year, and it's no accident that we're playing well."

Quillan, who grabbed 18 of the 40 total points in the paint for Hope, also reeled in eight rebounds for the championship-bound Flying Dutchmen. The center from Ada, Michigan (Grand Rapids Catholic Central) went 7 for 11 from the field and shot 50% from the free throw line. 

Wiegerink (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) chipped in 10 points for Hope, going 3 for 5 from the field. 

Hope went 16 for 22 in the first half, good for 72.7% FG shooting, compared to Trine's 48.1% FG shooting in the first twenty minutes. 

"A really good defensive second half, plus 12 against a really good rebounding team was how it had to be," Mitchell said of Hope's first-half play. "It kind of was like an open offensive game in the first half and more defensive rock fight in the second half. I really like the rock fight because that shows some toughness, some grit and that's what it takes to advance," 

This is Hope's 21st appearance in an MIAA Tournament final. The Flying Dutchmen are seeking to become the program's first MIAA Tournament champion as a No. 3 seed.

When seeded third, the Flying Dutchmen advanced to the championship game in 2021 and lost in the semifinals in 2015, 2005, 2000, and 1994.