Valentine Day's sure was a sweet one for the Hope College men's basketball team.
The Flying Dutchmen soared to a 95-47 victory against The University of Olivet on Wednesday at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Hope (18-6, 9-3 MIAA) dominated an opponent that beat second-ranked Trine University by 12 points four days earlier. The Flying Dutchmen jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never trailed.
"We've got great respect for them. They've had a really good year without a lot of rewards. We're all aware they've played everybody tough," head coach Greg Mitchell said. "I just think our guys have the right frame of mind for the right time of year. They just want to keep on playing."
Hope remained in contention for a first-round bye in the MIAA Tournament. The Flying Dutchmen close the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. at Albion College.
If Hope wins at Albion and Calvin University loses at first-place Trine University on Saturday, Feb. 17, the Flying Dutchmen would move into a second-place tie with Calvin. A tiebreaker would decide who gets the No. 2 seed for the MIAA Tournament and the first-round bye.
Against Olivet, Hope held an opponent under 50 points for the third time this season and for the first time since a 59-42 home victory against Calvin on Jan. 27.
The Flying Dutchmen recorded their second-highest-scoring game of the season, only trailing their output during a 96-47 victory against Concordia University (Wis.) on Nov. 25.
Hope also pulled down a season-best 61 rebounds.
"The ball was finding the right guy tonight. The open guy was receiving it because our guys worked to find him," Mitchell said. "I liked how we got after them on the glass. Our defensive effort was really, really good. We were keeping them out of the lane and making them make shots under duress."
All 15 players scored for the Flying Dutchmen.
Senior forward Tanner Wiegerink (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa HS) and junior center Gabe Quillan (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) shared game-high honors with 16 points apiece.
Quillan grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Wiegerink reeled in seven boards.
Senior forward TJ McMenzie (Muskegon, Michigan / North Muskegon) chipped in 13 points off the bench while sinking a team-high three 3-pointers.
Three Hope players chipped in seven points apiece: senior guard Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East), senior center Devin Cheaney (Batavia, Illinois / Batavia) and junior guard Zach Hawes (Haslett, Michigan / Laingsburg).
Dykhouse also dished out a game-high five assists. Junior guard Josh Decker (Cuyahoga Falls, Michigan / Woodridge) added three assists.