by Mackenzie McMahon

The Hope College men's basketball team took down Albion College 75-70 on Saturday after a career-high point night for Clayton Dykhouse. 

Dykhouse (Zeeland, MI / Zeeland East HS), pictured right, put up 28 points in the win which put the Flying Dutchmen at 13-5 overall and 6-1 in MIAA conference play. Hope took over the MIAA lead, one-half game ahead of Albion (10-9, 6-2 MIAA) and one game ahead of Calvin University (12-6, 5-2 MIAA).

"Baskets come tough at Kresge (Albion's gym), so for Clay to have that kind of game, in that type of environment, was tremendous," said head coach Greg Mitchell of Dykhouse. "He was really good at both ends of the floor, he was poised and calm. Big players rise to the occasion, he was the big player tonight."

Dykhouse would go 7 for 13 in the field, 12 of 13 at the line, and shot 66.7% in the three-point range. 

Junior Evan Thomas (Okemos, MI / Okemos) picked up a team-high eight rebounds, while grabbing 11 points in the win. Senior Jeff Bikus (Hawthorn Woods, Ill / Mundelein) notched 14 points against Albion while shooting 50% in both the field and the three-point range. 

The biggest key to tonight's win, according to Mitchell, was their week long preparation for the Brits. 

"I just thought our defensive focus energy was amazing, it was hard because there was so many fouls called, so many disruptions to flow, but we felt really good about understanding their actions and our guys were tremendously dialed in"

The Flying Dutchmen are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 2 as they go out on the road to take on Alma College. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.