The Hope College men's basketball team continues to be stingy against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponents. The defensive effort is keeping the seventh-ranked Flying Dutchmen in control of their destiny in the league race.
Hope earned a 57-50 win at Trine on Wednesday to remain tied atop the MIAA standings with Alma, a 91-79 winner over visiting Calvin.
Wednesday marked the third consecutive game the Flying Dutchmen held a league opponent under 60 points. Hope has allowed an average of 55 points the past three games to Olivet, Alma and Trine.
The 50 points yielded to Trine were the fewest allowed by the Flying Dutchmen since a season-opening 65-47 win at Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Hope is now 20-2 overall and takes an eight-game win streak into Saturday's Senior Day game against Adrian at 7:30 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Junior forward Harrison Blackledge of Canton, Ohio (Hoover HS) topped the Flying Dutchmen with 11 points.
Senior guard Ben Gardner of Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS) finished with 10 points. He now has 1,203 on his career and is 19th all-time among Flying Dutchmen players.
Gardner passed Brad Duistermars (1,197 points between 1991-95) and Andy Phillips (1,200 between 2002-06) on Wednesday.
Hope closed the final four minutes of the first half on an 8-2 run for a 30-26 halftime lead. The Flying Dutchmen never trailed during the second half en route to their 10th league victory in as many tries.
The Flying Dutchmen also clinched a berth in the Feb. 26-27 MIAA Tournament by beating Trine.
