The sixth-ranked Hope College men's basketball team was upset 82-77 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament semifinals on Friday at DeVos Fieldhouse.
The Flying Dutchmen (23-3 overall) will have to wait until Monday at 12:30 p.m. to learn if they receive an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The 62-team men's field will be announced on NCAA.com. There are 19 at-large teams.
Trine (18-8 overall) denied Hope its 17th MIAA Tournament championship game appearance by outscoring the Flying Dutchmen 21-9 over the final 4 minutes, 56 seconds of the game.
The Thunder earned a spot in Saturday's 8 p.m. title game against Alma (20-6). Both teams are making their first championship game appearances. The winner earns the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Five Hope players scored in double figures.
Sophomore guard Dante Hawkins of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS) topped the Flying Dutch with 18 points and six assists.
All-MIAA First Team player and senior guard Ben Gardner of Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS) chipped 15 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
Junior guard Chad Carlson of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS) finished with 13 points.
Senior center and All-MIAA Second Team player Brock Benson of Willowbrook, Illinois (Hinsdale South HS) and junior forward Cody Stuive of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville HS) netted 12 points apiece.
The loss snapped an 11-game win streak for the Flying Dutchmen and was their first at DeVos Fieldhouse in 18 games.
Center Jared Holmquist scored 33 points to lead the Thunder, who shot 60.9 percent from the field for the game (28-46). The MIAA Tournament record for field-goal percentage is 66.0 points and is held by the 1992 Albion team in a 107-92 win against Olivet.
