The Thunder men’s basketball team shot like the lights out early on the way to a 38 point 1st half as they cruised 64-46 versus Adrian (15-6, 4-6 MIAA). The win is the third straight for Trine (14-7, 7-3 MIAA) in conference play and was redemption for a loss to the then 25th in the nation Bulldogs on the road three weeks ago.
Trine jumped out to an 8-2 lead just three minutes in behind three straight buckets from forward Scott Rogers. After swapping points for the next few minutes, Jared Holmquist went on a rampage, attacking the basket on four consecutive possessions, hitting three layups and nailing a free throw that gave Trine a 19-9 lead midway through the first half. The Thunder then used a variety of players and solid team defense (32.7% FG for Adrian) to help build an 18 point lead, with Ian Jackson Jared Holmquist and Nick Tatu all putting their best foot forward before Rogers got hot again with another five points before the half. Rogers and Holmquist combined for a stunning 23 points on 10 of 11 shooting and 3 for 3 on free throws in the first twenty minutes.
Adrian would never truly make it a game in the second half, with the closest 47-39 with 11:15 left in the game. Ian Jackson had a pedestrian game for his standards, with 15 points (6-16 FG, 3-7 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers, but shined in the first ten minutes of the second half. Jackson scored or was a key component of the scoring play on nine straight points to open the second period. Rogers and Holmquist closed out the unexpectedly easy last few minutes of play, swishing all six free throws before guard Dustin Hall’s (2 points, 11 assists, 3 steals) only basket closed the scoring at 64-46.
Trine is on the road for their next three games, starting Wednesday at Albion. They previously beat Albion 70-62 in Ketner Sports Center on January 12th.
