KALAMAZOO, Mich. - After trailing for most of the first half, the Trine University men's basketball team used a 13-0 run to carry them to a 63-51 victory over Kalamazoo College. The win improves the Thunder to 12-7 on the year and 5-3 in the MIAA.

The Hornets would score the first two baskets of the game, but Trine would answer right back making two straight of their own to tie it early on. Kalamazoo would continue to put the pressure on the Thunder, as the Hornets would not allow Trine to take a lead in the opening minutes. Trine would have an answer for each Kalamazoo basket, but would not take their first lead of the game until junior Todd Watkins (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Bernard) made a jumper with 8:48 to play. Defense would be key after that basket as neither team would score for nearly four minutes until senior Ian Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) nailed a jumper with 4:49 left in the half.

The Thunder defense would hold Kalamazoo scoreless for just over eight minutes until the Hornets hit a pair of free throw with 2:17 on the clock. Trine had been on a 13-0 run to that point. The Hornets would make just one field goal over the final 10:38 of the half, coming with just 9.2 seconds to play. Sophomore Jake Bagley (Van Wert, Ohio/Van Wert) would hit an 18-foot jumper as time expired to give the Thunder a 29-22 lead at the half.

Freshman Tarvis Malone (Toledo, Ohio/St. Johns Jesuit) hit a three to start the second half to give the Thunder their largest lead of the game at that point, leading by 10. After trading baskets over the course of several minutes, Kalamazoo would go on a 6-0 run to cut the Trine lead to just four. After again trading baskets over several minutes of play, freshman Jared Holmquist (Reed City, Mich./Reed City) push the Thunder lead back to 10, converting the and-one after making a jumper in the paint with 7:03 to play in the game. Kalamazoo would answer with a layup, but that would be as close as they would get as the Thunder defense took the sting out of the Hornets down the stretch.

Senior Scott Rogers (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) led the Thunder with 13 points on the afternoon and grabbed five rebounds. Jackson added 12 points and a game-high three steals while freshman Nick Tatu (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) scored 11 points off the bench. Holmquist led Trine with seven rebounds while sophomore Dustin Hall (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) dished out a game-high four assists.

Trine held the Hornets to a conference season-low 51 points, which were also the fewest points allowed by the Thunder this season.

Trine will return home on January 30 to face Alma College for an 8:00 p.m. game.