DELAWARE, Ohio – The #1 Trine University Men's Basketball team pulled away in the second half of today's game against the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops to take home an 86-82 victory. Drew Moore and Aidan Smylie led the Thunder with 17 points each. Trine is now 6-0, while OWU falls to 3-3.
 
The first half was a tightly contested offensive slugfest with both teams shooting at impressive clips. The Thunder made 18-32 field goals (56.3%) and the Battling Bishops shot 16-23 (69.6%). The half featured 8 ties and 13 lead changes with neither team leading by more than five. Moore led the Thunder with 13 first-half points. Moore got started at the free throw line knocking down three free throws after he was fouled on a three-point attempt to give Trine a 7-6 lead. Moore then added a dunk and triple off an assist from Cam Smith, to regain the lead 14-12. Nate Tucker added 11 points, Jayce Cusack had eight, and Emmanuel Megnanglo added six to help Trine keep pace with the Bishops who made eight first half three pointers.
 
Smylie came to life in the second half as Trine began to pull away. Smylie who entered the game averaging just 4.8 points per contest returned to his form from last season, knocking down five second half triples as the Thunder began to find their stride. The score was tied at 64 with just under 12 minute remaining, from there Trine would go on a 15-5 run backed by three consecutive triples from Smylie. With 5:19 left Fred Garland gave the Thunder an 11 point lead at 83-72, from there the Bishops would battle back with an 8-1 run to narrow the lead to 84-80 with 1:21. Coach Miller called timeout to rally his guys and preserve the lead. Trine fouled OWU's Henry Hinkle with 15 seconds left and he cut the Thunder lead to two. The Bishops immediately fouled Tucker on the inbound and he iced the game, making both shots to send Trine to 6-0 with an 86-82 win.
 
Trine shot 33-60 (55.0%) from the floor and 7-16 (43.8%) from beyond the three point line. The Thunder out rebounded the Bishops 29-27, while forcing 18 turnovers. The Bishops shot 28-53 (52.8%) from the floor and 14-27 (51.9%) from three point range.
 
Trine heads south to Bexley, Ohio for tomorrow's match up with the Capital Comets at 2 p.m.