by Alan Babbitt

With the Hope College men's basketball team struggling early in the second half for the second time this week, center Gabe Quillan provided the Flying Dutchmen a timely boost.

The freshman from Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Central HS) squashed a three-minute scoreless stretch with his 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame. Hope stopped host Olivet College's comeback bid and claimed an 84-70 victory on Saturday.

The Flying Dutchmen upped their record to 16-6 overall and 9-2 in MIAA play. Hope remained a half-game out of first place in the league standings; the Flying Dutchmen can pull even with Calvin University with a victory at Kalamazoo College on Monday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

Quillan, pictured left, came off the bench to score career-high nine points, seven of which came after a 6-0, second-half opening run cut Hope's lead to 40-32.

His first appearance in eight games helped the Flying Dutchmen bounce back from Wednesday's loss at Trine University.

"It was out of necessity because of some foul trouble. At the same time, Gabe is another one of our players who has really done a good job of staying ready, battling every day in practice, keeping his nose to the grindstone. We have confidence in him," head coach Greg Mitchell said. "He did a good job at both ends of the floor. He gave us a tremendous lift. I'm proud of him. I'm proud of the guys for believing in him."

In 12 minutes, Quillan shot 66.7 percent from the field (4-of-6). He also grabbed five rebounds, including four on the offensive end.

Quillan helped Hope outscore Olivet by a 53-16 margin in the paint. His three layups in a span of 2 minutes, 15 seconds, including one that resulted in a successful three-point player, extended the Flying Dutchmen lead to 50-33. 

Olivet (6-17, 3-9 MIAA) never cut the lead back below single digits.

The Flying Dutchmen were helped by Olivet's struggles at the foul line. The Comets finished the game at 39.3 percent (11-of-28). Chris Martin's double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds led Olivet.

Guard Evan Thomas topped the Flying Dutchmen with a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds. The junior from Okemos, MIchigan (Okemos) recorded his ninth 20-point game of the game and second in as many games.

Thomas totaled 14 points in the first half as Hope raced to a 40-26 halftime lead.

Point guard Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) chipped in 15 points and six assists.

Senior forward Jeff Bikus (Hawthorn Hills, Illinois / Mundelein) added nine points.

Guard Eli Schoonveld netted a season-high eight points off the bench on 4-of-4 shooting from the field. The sophomore from Zeeland, Michigan (Holland Christian) also pulled down six rebounds in 16 minutes.

Mitchell is pleased with how many contributions the Flying Dutchmen are receiving from their roster this season. 

Whether it to be T.J. McKenzie Jr., Jaxon Halbert, Schoonveld, Quillan, or others, help has arrived.

"Especially with how things have gone this year, you just have to have everyone ready," Mitchell said. "Our practices have been great, guys always competing, no days off. We have a four-game stretch in eight days, we have to be ready to go deep again."