A new season opened with a career achievement in reach, and the Hope College men's basketball team seized it.
The Flying Dutchmen powered past Anderson University on Friday night, 98-83, delivering career win No. 200 for head coach Greg Mitchell.
"Any kind of big win, I find myself reflecting," said head coach Greg Mitchell. "I'm blessed to be in the position I'm in with the players I've coached and our coaching staff I've worked with."
Mitchell is the third Flying Dutchmen basketball coach to reach 200 wins, joining Glenn Van Wieren (660) and Russ DeVette (318).
The offensive showcase marked Hope's highest-scoring season opener since a 139–129 victory over Greenville College on Nov. 16, 2018.
Hope played with pace from the opening tip, pushing tempo, attacking the rim, and sharing the ball to build a 47–40 halftime lead. Out of the break, the Flying Dutchmen tightened their grip, outscoring Anderson 51–43 the rest of the way thanks to sharp execution and relentless transition play.
The Flying Dutchmen asserted themselves on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 43–23, and applied consistent pressure defensively, collecting nine steals and holding the Ravens to one offensive rebound.
Freshman guard Brendan Cargill (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central HS) poured in a game-high 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting, including 5-for-8 beyond the arc, to ignite Hope's attack.
Cargill was joined by a dominant night from sophomore Kyle Blauch (Boulder, Colorado / Boulder), who racked up 23 points, a perfect 11-for-11 shooting, and four assists. Blauch set the tone inside while helping Hope score 52 points in the paint.
On the glass, sophomore Charles Howell (Cadillac, Michigan / Cadillac) and junior Parker Hovey (Shelby, Michigan / Hart) combined for 14 rebounds, with Howell grabbing a team-high eight.
"I liked our tenacity on the glass. They're a real hard team to guard because of how they spread the floor. Being plus-20 on the board was one of the most important attributes to win," said Mitchell.
From beyond the arc, freshman Avery Sanchez (Turlock, California / John H. Pitman) delivered 15 points with three triples, while senior Marcus Wourman (Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing) added 12 points and two assists, keeping the offense flowing.
"Our freshmen were fantastic. They were because our older guys believed in them. To go the road and beat a team that's won championships feels pretty good," said Mitchell.
Hope's bench shone as well led by senior Justice Mims (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Rochester Adams) and junior Simon Neuhaus (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids), contributing a total of 30 bench points.
Hope plays again on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Franklin College (Indiana).
