OLIVET, Mich. – For the first time in the 2023-24 season, the Trine University men's basketball team dropped a game inside the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) 87-75 to The University of Olivet. The #2 Trine Thunder are 21-2 overall and remain in sole possession of first place in the conference at 11-1. Olivet moves up to 4-19 and 2-10 in conference play.

Trine had five double-digit scorers, but could not overcome the outstanding shooting from the Comets from the field, going 31-for-52 (59.6%). Fred Garland and Emmanuel Megnanglo paced the team with 14 points each. Olivet distributed assists on 22 of their makes compared to just 10 for the Thunder. 45 points off the bench from the Comets were also key in the game.

Olivet claimed a 7-2 lead, but Trine was able to chip away at the deficit and a dunk by Megnanglo gave the Thunder their first lead after seven minutes of action. Megnanglo would rock the rim yet again and sink two free throws to further the gap to 16-11, but the Comets remained consistent.

Brent Cox and Nate Tucker had baskets to keep Trine in front, but the rest of the first half was a back-and-forth affair. Success from beyond the arc put Olivet ahead at the break 41-40. Compare that to the Thunder who were just 1-of-9 from deep in the period.

Aidan Smylie connected from downtown early in the second half and Drew Moore hit a jump shot to tie the game at 48 all, but the Comets stayed hot throughout on their senior day. Olivet would withstand scores by Cortez Garland to go up 64-54 halfway through the period. The lead for the home squad would grow to as many as 16 with 3:37 to play.

Fred Garland facilitated some quick scores for Trine in the closing minutes and bury some attempts at the free throw line, but the Comets would counter with scores of their own and closed the game with makes at the charity stripe to pull away to the 87-75 win.

The Thunder will celebrate their senior class against Kalamazoo College on Wednesday, February 14 beginning at 7:30 p.m. inside the MTI Center.