CHICAGO – Jayden Bradshaw led four Thunder in double digits with 19 points in the Trine University men's basketball team's 86-66 victory over Illinois Tech on Wednesday night. Bradshaw did his damage in the first half for the Thunder (2-0) who spoiled the Scarlet Hawks' season opener.
 
Cade Brenner added his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, Logan McKenzie scored a career-high 18 to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals and Nate Tucker pitched in 13 points.
 
Trine battled back from an early 5-0 deficit and some first half three point shooting woes to lead 36-27 at halftime. Bradshaw score 14 of his 19 in the first frame. Tucker broke the ice for Trine with a layup and Bradshaw added another quickly after. Trine used a 10-3 run over 4:31 of game time to take the lead 16-15. Bradshaw provided four of the 10 and Drew Panning added four more while Trevon Rochester-Thomas made a pair of free throws. The teams traded blows for nearly seven minutes before Logan McKenzie made a layup with help from Danny Flood to give Trine the lead for good. The basket was the start of a 12-0 run that gave the Thunder a 34-22 lead. Illinois Tech countered with a 5-0 spurt to reel the Thunder in at halftime.
 
Trine was unable to connect on a three pointer in the first half but the tide turned in the second half as they made five of eleven. Elias Lewis removed the lid from beyond the arc just two minutes in. Bradshaw found Panning for a dunk and Lewis made a jumper as Trine stretched the lead to 14 early in the second half. Brenner made his first of two second half long balls to stifle a Scarlet Hawk rally. Illinois Tech was able to cut the deficit to seven with just over eight minutes left to trail 63-56. Trine would close the game on a 23-10 run to secure the win. Brenner hit double digits with his second long ball with help from McKenzie, Tucker knocked in a triple of his own, then it was Flood's turn. Flood found McKenzie in the paint on the next possession to stretch the lead to 77-62. Trine converted four free throws and Bradshaw capped off his night with an and-one.
 
Trine returns to the MTI Center to take on Baldwin Wallace on Saturday evening. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff.