HOLLAND, Mi. – The Spalding University men's basketball team lost, 79-51, to number 15 ranked Hope College in their first game of the Russ Devette/ Holland Sentinel Classic. The loss drops the Golden Eagles record to 1-9 on the season.

Senior Nick Trisko led the Golden Eagles scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds, while Hope's Dante Hawkins led all scorers earning 23 points off the bench for the Flying Dutchmen.  

Coming off of six consecutive losses, the Golden Eagles continued to struggle offensively, shooting just 34 percent from the field in the first half. SU had the game tied 10-10 at the 15-minute mark after a put back by Trisko. Nine steals and four blocks kept the Golden Eagles within reach of the lead for the majority of the half. However, 13 points for Hope's Harrison Blackledge and a late three from Hawkins gave the Flying Dutchmen an 11-point lead over the Golden Eagles at halftime.

Hope College went on an 18-2 run to open the second half, taking the score to 53-28 with 15 minutes left in the game.  Although SU improved their shooting to 41percent from the field goal range, Hope's three-point shooting made it difficult to get back into the game. Hope had five players combine for six threes in the second half, alone, while SU went 1-of-11 from behind the arc. SU's only three came from Will Rainey, who tallied five of 21 total bench points for the Golden Eagles. Hope earned nearly double the bench points with 46, leading to a 28-point victory.

The Golden Eagles will face Olivet College Tuesday afternoon at 6pm in their final game of the Russ Devette/ Holland Sentinel Classic.