HOLLAND, Mich. – The Trine University men's basketball team made a late rally, but ultimately came up short in their Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener against Hope College on Wednesday night. The Thunder (8-4, 0-1 MIAA) trailed by as many as 14 in the second half and pulled within one of the Dutch (6-6, 1-0 MIAA) before falling 82-80. Nate Tucker led the Thunder with 18 points.
 
Tucker led the way with his best performance of the season, also collecting eight rebounds. He got started quickly, scoring just 13 seconds into the contest. Jayden Bradshaw assisted the basket and continued the fast start with a three-point play. Danny Flood also had a three point play, but his came from beyond the three-point line and then connected on another one the next trip down the floor and Trine led 11-4 less than two minutes into the game. The pace hardly slowed as the teams entered the half with Hope leading 46-45. The Dutch answered Trine's fast start with 15 of the next 17 points to lead 19-13.
 
Tucker broke the cold spell for Trine with an and-one and a few possessions later with a three pointer to tie it at 21. The teams traded baskets from there with Hope holding a small lead. Trine was able to regain control with 1:11 left as Danny Flood got into the lane for a layup. Tucker tallied 16 of his 18 in the first half.
 
The pace slowed in the second half with Hope outscoring Trine 36-35. Trine kept it close over the first three minutes, but the Dutch used a 13-1 run to take a 14-point lead with 13:44 left. The Thunder stayed in it with the next six points. Again, the Dutch would pull away taking a 74-60 lead with 7:47 left. Trine answered with a 12-2 run to make it a game. Elias Lewis tipped in a Bradshaw miss, then Logan McKenzie made a jumper, and Bradshaw made a pair of free throws. Lewis got help from Brenner on a three pointer and then Brenner scored on a fast break layup to pull within four.
 
Hope stopped the run with a three pointer but not the momentum. Bradshaw answered with one of his own and Trine trailed 79-75 with 1:28 left. McKenzie grabbed a steal and went the distance to cut the lead to two. Bradshaw was fouled with 11 seconds left, trailing 81-79. He split the pair of free throws, but Brenner grabbed the rebound. A turnover would doom the Thunder and Hope closed out the win with a free throw.
 
Trine returns home for the first time since December 3^rd on Saturday when they host Alma on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.