OLIVET, Mich. - It didn't take long for the Trine University men's basketball team to assert its dominance in their matchup against Olivet College as they easily handled the game 85-50. The Thunder improve to 11-5 on the season with the win and 4-1 in the conference. Trine now stands alone in second place in the conference as Adrian fell to Alma.

Junior Scott Rogers (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) scored the first two buckets of the game as the Thunder led early. The Comets would answer back as Trine led by just one at 6-5. From there it was all Thunder as Trine held the Comets scoreless over the next five minutes as they built a 19-5 lead. Olivet cut the lead to seven at 21-14 with just under nine minutes remaining in the half, but that would be as close as they would get from there. The Thunder shutout the Comets over the next four minutes as they again pushed their lead back to double figures. The Trine defense allowed just four points in the final six minutes of the half as the Thunder led it 38-20 at the half. The 20 points allowed by the Thunder in the first half is the fewest they have allowed in any half this season.

Trine's defense remained solid to start the second half as they allowed just two points over the first four minutes as the Thunder led 50-22. The Thunder continued to push the ball on offense as they increased their lead to 31 points with 14:48 left in the game. The two sides would trade baskets over a 10 minute period as the Thunder led 67-40. Trine extended their lead to 37 as they outscored the Comets 11-1 over a four minute period down the stretch.

Despite playing just over half the game, three Trine starters scored in double figures. Rogers led the Thunder with a game-high 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Senior Tim Pearcy (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) added in 15 points while pulling down five rebounds. Conference scoring leader, junior Ian Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian), added in 13 points while freshman Isaac Loechle (Greensburg, Ind./North Decatur) contributed with eight. Sophomore Chris Kent (Angola, Ind./Angola) led the Thunder with a game-high nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals.

The 50 points the Thunder defense allowed was the fewest an opponent has scored this season while the margin of victory, 35 points, was the largest of the season for Trine. Trine shot over 50 percent for the fourth time this season as they finished the night hitting on 34-of-64 (53.1%) including making 64 percent in the second half.

With the win, the Thunder improve to 8-7 against the Comets since joining the conference.

Trine will travel to Calvin College for a 3:00 p.m. game on January 21.