The nationally ranked Hope College men's basketball team pushed host Cornerstone to the brink in the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Classic title game before falling 73-67 on Saturday.

Junior forward Harrison Blackledge of Canton, Ohio (Hoover HS) scored a team-high 22 points for the Flying Dutchmen, who suffered their first loss of the season against the reigning NAIA Division II national champions.

Blackledge joined senior center Brock Benson of Willowbrook, Illinois (Hinsdale South HS) on the all-tournament team.

Benson finished with 18 points, including 16 during the first half to help give Hope a 35-33 halftime lead.

Senior guard Ben Gardner of Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS) added 10 points.

The Flying Dutchmen pushed their lead as high as 11 points early in the second half. A jumper from senior forward Sam Otto of Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton North HS) put Hope ahead 49-38 just 6 minutes, 3 seconds into the second half.

Cornerstone (8-1) whittled at Hope's lead before pulling ahead 68-67 on point guard Michael McLaughlin's layup with 1:41 remaining. The Golden Eagles scored the game's final nine points to capture the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Classic title.

McLaughlin netted 18 of his 19 points during the second half. He made the all-tournament team along with teammate and tournament VMP Kyle Steigenga, who recorded a game-high 27 points.

Hope, ranked No. 16 in the preseason D3Hoops.com NCAA Division III preseason poll, is now 20-18 all-time in the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Classic. 

The Flying Dutchmen return to action on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5 with their home opener at DeVos Fieldhouse. At the Midwest Challenge, Hope hosts Wheaton, Illinois on Friday at 8 p.m. and Carthage, Wisconsin on Saturday at 3 p.m.