ANGOLA, Ind. – Junior Rickey Jackson, Jr. carried the men's basketball team on the offensive end with a career-high 26 points in a 66-55 loss at Trine University on Wednesday night. Jackson, Jr. went 8-for-14 from the field including a 5-for-7 effort from behind the arc in 37 minutes. Jackson, Jr. broke his career-high of 25 points in the team's last game against Olivet on Saturday. Junior Jordan Denham came off the bench to tie his season-high with 12 points. Denham connected on 4-for-6 including 2-for-4 from behind the arc.

The Bulldogs (7-13, 5-4 MIAA) won the first meeting between the teams this season and held Trine to 44 points. The Thunder (14-6, 7-2 MIAA) shot the ball much better in the second matchup going 14-for-37 from the floor and 33-for-37 at the free throw line. Adrian ended the game shooting 40.5 percent including an excellent 8-for-16 behind the arc. Adrian uncharacteristically had 16 turnovers as Trine scored 21 points off those turnovers. Adrian did not lead in the contest while the Thunder held a 12-point lead midway through the first half.

The Thunder opened the game on a 9-2 run and quickly moved the lead to 15-4 with 13:39 left in the first half. The Bulldogs trailed 30-22 at intermission but stormed out of the locker room to tie the game at 36-36 after a 14-6 run in the first 4:39 of the second half. Denham connected on a three-pointer to knot things up and then Trine responded with a 9-0 run to switch momentum. Adrian cut the lead to 47-45 with 10:02 remaining after a three-point play by Justin Webster. Trine pulled away however outscoring Adrian 8-0 in a span of six-plus minutes where the Bulldogs did not score.

Trine led 55-45 with 3:55 left to play and traded baskets for the remainder of the contest to stay in a first-place tie in the MIAA with Calvin. Hope occupies third place at 6-3 followed by the Bulldogs in fourth place at 5-4. Jared Holmquist led Trine with 18 points and nine rebounds.