Hope resumes winning ways in the MIAA Tournament - D3hoops
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The Hope College men's basketball team battled through an early, tight first half before breaking away and securing an 81-55 victory over Adrian College in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday at DeVos Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Flying Dutchmen's senior class has tallied 10 consecutive wins in MIAA Tournament games, keeping Hope's championship streak alive as the Orange and Blue chase a fourth conference tournament title in as many years.
Hope (15-11) advanced to play nationally-ranked Trine University in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Friday, Feb, 28, at 5:30 p.m. at Calvin. The Flying Dutchmen split the season series with the Thunder.
On Wednesday, the game was a back-and-forth battle early, with Hope leading by no more than seven points until the Flying Dutchmen found its rhythm late in the first half and doubled its lead.
A strong push in the final five minutes gave the Flying Dutchmen their first double-digit lead. They continued to build momentum, stretching the advantage to 17 points before halftime. At the break, Hope led 42-27, fueled by efficient offense and strong defensive play.
Head coach Greg Mitchell credited persistence as one of the reasons Hope found its rhythm.
"It had a lot to do with giving ourselves more chances, [Adrian] was going from a zone to a man coverage so it was hard to find some rhythm, but we never stopped getting to the glass," Mitchell said.
Junior Marcus Wourman (Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing HS) was instrumental in establishing Hope's lead, both reaching double-digit points before halftime.
"I thought Marcus really turned it up a notch," Mitchell said. "He did exactly what he has to be, kind of the head of the snake from the point position."
Wourman finished with a team-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including three from behind the arc, while also adding three assists.
Sophomore Parker Hovey (Shelby, Michigan / Hart) delivered a well-rounded performance with 12 points, seven rebounds, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
Senior Gabe Quillan (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) provided a strong inside presence, contributing 16 points and seven rebounds
Defensively, Hope made life difficult for Adrian, forcing tough shots and dominating the paint. The Flying Dutchmen recorded 10 blocks, with Hovey leading the way in his career-best effort.
Adrian struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 31.7% from the field (20-of-63) and managing only 28 second-half points as Hope clamped down defensively.
