Today's 186th meeting in the Hope-Calvin men's basketball rivalry that dates back to 1920 is their first meeting this season.
Tipoff is 3 p.m. at Calvin's Van Noord Arena. You can watch the gamein West Michigan on WGVU TV 35 and 52, World Harvest Television on DirectTV Ch. 367, Family Entertainment Television on DISH Network Ch. 82 and AT&T U-verse Ch. 578. Or, click here for a live video from Calvin.
Hope enters with a 7-5 record, while Calvin is 9-3. Both teams are 1-0 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
The Flying Dutchmen lead the all-time series by a 96-89 margin, including an 8-4 edge this decade.
The Rivalry is so contested that only 88 points separate the teams after 95 years – a modest average of 0.475 points per game. Hope has scored 12,572 points f
or an average of 67.956, while Calvin has scored 12,484 points for an average of 67.481.
Click here to go to the special Hope-Calvin Rivalry page.
Click here to find sites of special Hope-Calvin Rivalry satellite parties.
The Flying Dutchmen enter today's game on a season-high, four-game win streak. Hope tipped off MIAA play on Thursday with a 75-61 home win vs. Trine. Sophomore guard Alex Eidson of Grand Haven (Grand Haven HS) led four Hope players in double figures with 15 points.
Guard Ben Gardner, Hope's leading scorer at 13.5 points per game, has reached double-digits in points a tean-best eight times this season. The sophomore from Carmel, Ind. (Carmel HS), has reached a season-high of 21 twice — Dec. 30 vs. Centre, Ky. and Dec. 31 vs. tournament host Thomas More, Ky.
Hope has enjoyed success at Van Noord Arena — Calvin's home since 2009. The Flying Dutchmen own a 5-4 record against the Knights at Van Noord Arena. Hope did lose both games at Calvin last season, including the MIAA Tournament championship game.
Hope coach Matt Neil has earned a 6-3 record vs. Calvin during his time as head coach. The Flying Dutchmen are 31-19 vs. the Knights during Kevin Vande Streek's tenure as Calvin's coach.
Gardner and Eidson represent Hope in the MIAA's scoring leaders. Gardner is ranked 10th at 13.5 points per game, while Eidson is 17th at 12.1. Gardner also is fifth in the league with 3.25 assists per game and tied for third at 1.42 steals per game.
Hope center Nate VanArendonk leads the MIAA in field-goal percentage and blocked shots. The senior from Grand Haven (Grand Haven HS) is hitting 67.9 percent (53-of-78). Teammate Brock Benson, a sophomore forward from Willowbrook, Ill. (Hinsdale South HS), is third at 60.7 percent. (37-of-61). VanArendonk is averaging 2.08 blocked shots per game. He is ranked sixth with 6.1 rebounds per game.
Junior guard Corey McMahon of Glenview, Ill. (Glenbrook South HS) ranks second in the MIAA in 3-point field-goal percentage at 50 percent (18-of-36). He trails Calvin's Jordan Brink (29-of-55 for 52.7).
Hope has played at Van Noord Arena four times already this season. The Flying Dutchmen went 1-1 at the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Tournament, edging Aquinas 69-67 on Nov. 29 and losing to Cornerstone 79-73 on Nov. 30. Hope also split its games during the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association/College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin Challenge at Calvin. The Flying Dutchmen lost to Wheaton (Ill.) 80-61 on Dec. 6, but rebounded to beat Carthage (Wis.) on Dec. 7.
The most points Hope has scored against Calvin in 104 during a 104-102 win against the Knights in 1965. The most points the Flying Dutchmen have allowed to Calvin during a 105-71 loss in 1964. There has not been a 100-point game in The Rivalry since 1972 when Hope lost 102-89.
There have been 11 Hope-Calvin overtime games. Hope has won six of them, including the last one – an 87-85 Hope win in 1998.
