-- Story provided by Hope College Athletics --
New weekend, same defensive mindset for the Hope College men's basketball team.
The Flying Dutchmen won their NCAA Division III Tournament opener against Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.), 79-65, on Friday in Oshkosh, Wisconsin after limiting an opponent to fewer than 70 points for the 10th consecutive game.
Head coach Greg Mitchell was pleased with how his team defended from the opening tipoff. Bethany Lutheran (23-5) had not scored fewer than 74 points all season and finished averaging 90.4.
In the first half alone, Bethany Lutheran scored only 21 points and trailed 43-21.
"Certainly really thrilled with the win. I was just really proud of our guys for our first-half effort. We were dialed in defensively," Mitchell said. "We had so much respect for who (Bethany Lutheran) are as a team — their guard play, their ability to shoot the basketball, their tempo. Our goal was to do our best and guard as hard as we could, just to kind of disallow their level of comfort.
"I thought we did just a tremendous job in the first half. We knew the second half was going to roll and they were going to play (downhill) really aggressively and free, and I thought it got a little bit interesting. At the same time, I think our guys on the floor were nice and composed and made the plays we had to make."
Hope (20-9) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 18th time in team history. The Flying Dutchmen will play at the 12th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Friday, March 4, at 8:05 p.m. Eastern.
Tickets can be purchased at the door. Cash sales only. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for non-Oshkosh students.
Earlier this season, Oshkosh won at Hope, 67-56. This will be the fourth all-time meeting and third in the NCAA Tournament. In postseason play, both teams have won once: Hope 87-85 in 2017 at DeVos Fieldhouse and Oshkosh 84-77 in 2003 at the Dow Center.
"Thrilled to advance, really proud of our team," Mitchell said. I think we're playing our best basketball of the year and excited to be in the round of 32."
Offensively, senior guard Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East HS) topped all scorers with 26 points.
Dykhouse led four Flying Dutchmen in double figures by 73.3% from the field (11-15), including 57.1% from 3-point range (4-7).
The Flying Dutchmen shot 50.8% from the field for the game (31-61).
"It's easy to play with great players," Dykhouse said. "I'm sitting next to a really, really good one in Evan thomas. Then, other guys stepping up — Gabe Quillan, Tanner Wiegerink. Guys were really solid. We were able to find really great passes out of the post, really patient, really poised. When you're leading, you're only as good as the guys that follow you. I feel like they have my respect and I have theirs, and it's a cohesive effort."
Senior forward Evan Thomas (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos) chipped in 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Sophomore center Gabe Quillan (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Senior forward TJ McKenzie Jr. (North Muskegon, Michigan / North Muskegon) scored 10 points.
Thomas said the Flying Dutchmen were motivated by last season's 71-69 loss to Wheaton College (Ill.) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"We were in the same position and lost by two in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, so I think that was a big emphasis to us — to come back and finish the job, start off strong with this first game, and finish the game," Thomas said. We had a big defensive emphasis all throughout practice this whole week. Obviously, a very high-powered offense they had. I think in the first half we just came out and executed our game plan perfectly. That was really fun. In the second half, they were bound to come back. I thought we did a good job of holding them off."
