STEVENS POINT, WISC. – A valiant second half rally came up just short for the #1 Trine University Men's Basketball team as they fell to Wisconsin Stevens-Point 65-62 on Saturday afternoon. Fred Garland led all scorers with 21 points. Trine suffers their first loss on the season, falling to 7-1 while the Pointers improve to 7-0.
 
Trine started well, taking a 9-5 lead just under 6 minutes into the game. A 19-5 run by UWSP would give the hosts a 24-11 lead. Trine was able to trim the lead to nine heading into the break. Emmanuel Megnanglo got things started with a jumper, Nate Tucker split a pair of free throws and Jayce Cusack made a layup. Megnanglo and Aidan Smylie then knocked down a pair of free throws. Drew Moore added a dunk as time expired and Trine trailed 33-24.
 
The Thunder almost immediately cut the deficit to five with buckets from Moore and Tucker. At the 13:12 mark in the second half Garland scored his first basket, he would score all 21 of his points over the final 13 minutes. Garland would score the next six points and Moore added a layup and the Thunder had the lead cut to four with 11 minutes to play. Garland hit Trine's lone three pointer of the night as the teams traded baskets with the clock dipping under four minutes to play.
 
With 3:48 to play UWSP held a 59-52 advantage. Garland made a layup, then Megnanglo went to the line for a one and one after creating a turnover. He missed, but making the put back was Smylie. Garland created another turnover on the ensuing possession and was fouled, he made both and cut the lead to 59-58. Off a fastbreak, Cusack grabbed a defensive rebound and sent it ahead to Garland who made a bucket and took the lead for the Thunder. The hosts answered by scoring the next four points to reclaim a 63-60 lead. Garland found his way to the free throw line with seven seconds left to trim the lead to one. UWSP made both free throws after Trine fouled to regain possession. Moore was able to get a three pointer off before the buzzer but was unable to get it to go and the Pointers dealt the Thunder their first loss of the season.
 
Trine will head into a 21 day break, they return to action on December 28^th when they travel to Franklin to take on the Grizzlies.