HOLLAND, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College men's basketball team continued MIAA play with a road game at Hope on Wednesday (Jan. 10). After staying within striking distance for the first 26 minutes of the game, the Hornets fell into a deep hole after a 13-0 run by the Flying Dutchmen and were eventually defeated 73-55.
The deficit never got over eight points in the first half as the Kalamazoo defense kept the team within striking distance in the low-scoring affair. Hope held a 34-27 advantage at the break. The Flying Dutchmen tried to pull away early in the second half by taking an 11-point lead, but the Hornets answered with an 8-1 run to get within four. Unfortunately, Hope flipped the script with a 13-0 run to stretch the lead back to 17 points. The Flying Dutchmen built their lead up to a game-high 23 points with a minute left by scoring 21 of the following 36 points. Kalamazoo scored the final five points in the 19-point defeat.
Kalamazoo shot 32.2% overall compared to Hope's 41.5%. The Hornets made 8 of 25 (32.0%) 3-pointers compared to 8 of 24 (33.3%) by the Flying Dutchmen. Kalamazoo went 9 of 19 (47.4%) from the free throw line compared to 11 of 22 (50.0%) by Hope. The Hornets had 39 rebounds compared to the Flying Dutchmen's 49, while Kalamazoo had seven assists on 19 made field goals.
Carter Bandemer and Patrick Perez had 14 points apiece to lead the team as Bandemer added four rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while Perez had four rebounds and a block. Gabriel Sharp contributed 10 points off the bench, and Lukas Broadsword finished with six rebounds and three blocks.
Bobby Samples (5), Dougie Blackwood (5), Caleb Caul (4), and Broadsword (3) rounded out the scoring for the Hornets.
Kalamazoo will continue conference play with a home game against Alma on Saturday (Jan. 13), beginning at 3 p.m.