ALMA, Mich. – The #7 Trine University Men's Basketball team got back to their winning ways with an 81-67 victory over Alma on Saturday afternoon. Nate Tucker poured in 25 points and Grant Pahl added 13 points and six assists. Trine is now 18-3 (8-2 MIAA), the Scots fall to 0-21 (0-10 MIAA).
 
Trine dominated the glass, holding a 38-27 advantage, Emmanuel Megnanglo posted a near double-double with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Two more Thunder scored in double figures, Jayce Cusack added 12 and Aidan Smylie pitched in 10 more.
 
Back to back triples from the Scots gave the hosts a 6-4 lead early on, Logan McKenzie would give Trine the lead for good with a layup to take an 8-6 lead. Eight different players scored in the first half for Trine, who built a 37-27 advantage. Trine forced 10 Scot turnovers and grabbed 19 rebounds. Tucker led the offense with 10 points.
 
Alma used a pair of three pointers to cut the lead to five early in the second half, two more a few minutes later kept the hosts hanging around, down 8. Trine responded with a 15-3 run, Megnanglo got the momentum going with dunk from Cusack and converted the and-one attempt. Cusack then dished to Tucker who buried a triple and Grant Pahl closed out the run scoring the final eight points on consecutive possessions. He scored three the hard way, then knocked down a mid-range jumper before finally notching a triple. Evan Lumbrezer assisted on Pahl's two jumpers. Trine maintained a lead of no less than 14 the rest of the way to get back into the win collum.
 
The Thunder close out a three game road trip on Wednesday against Albion at 7:00 p.m. They will return home for senior day on February 15^th against Olivet at 3:00 p.m.