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Brendan Cargill dribbles a basketball.
Junebug Photography
Pictured, Brendan Cargill
74
Wis.-Platteville UWP 6-3,0-0 WIAC
84
Winner Hope Hope 5-2,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Wis.-Platteville UWP
6-3,0-0 WIAC
74
Final
84
Hope Hope
5-2,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wis.-Platteville UWP 35 39 74
Hope Hope 42 42 84

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Alan Babbitt

Men's Basketball Denies Wisconsin-Platteville Comeback, Wins at Home

Junior Parker Hovey and the Hope College men's basketball team kept a prospecting opponent from striking it rich at DeVos Fieldhouse.

The Flying Dutchmen held off six-win University of Wisconsin–Platteville down the stretch Saturday, extending their winning streak to four games with an 84-74 non-conference victory.

Hope (5-2) snapped the Pioneers' season-best three-game winning streak behind Hovey's career-high 29 points and team-best eight rebounds.

Head coach Greg Mitchell said Hovey (Hart, Michigan / Hart) delivered again for the Flying Dutchmen.

"He has been really good and has to carry a lot of the load for us. He sure rose when we needed him to," Mitchell said. "When he is able to slow the game down and make intelligent plays — not just the tough plays — that is special."

In 30 minutes, Hovey shot 64.3% from the field (9 of 14) and 83.3% from the free-throw line (10 of 12). The 6-foot-5 forward set career highs in field goals made and free throws made.

Platteville (6-3) trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half before pulling within four on a Max Love jumper with 2:19 remaining. Love matched Hovey with 29 points.

Hovey answered with a layup to start a game-clinching 8-0 run over the next 1 minute, 7 seconds. The surge included six free throws from senior guard Marcus Wourman (Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing). Wourman finished 9 of 14 from the line and totaled 13 points.

Mitchell expressed pride in how the Flying Dutchmen responded to Platteville's push, particularly on the offensive end.

"There was a sense of calm, a sense of trust in the offense — trusting possessions," Mitchell said. "Rather than trying to dial up a set, let's trust these guys to make decisions in space. When you're unselfish like they are, it's easy to trust. That's who our guys are. A great win for us."

Freshman guard Brendan Cargill (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) added 19 points, including a 7-of-8 effort from the free-throw line.

Sophomore center Orion Yant (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West) and freshman guard Avery Sanchez (Turlock, California / John H. Pitman) scored seven points apiece.

Hope relied on a balanced effort, with eight players logging at least 12 minutes and two more playing at least seven.

"It's really important because your top five or six can be fresher and make better decisions," Mitchell said. "Our depth is key. Forty minutes is a long time. We're going to continue to try to win with our depth and defensive pressure. The trust factor with everyone is through the roof, and that's critical."

The Flying Dutchmen will rely on that depth while playing three times in seven days. Before Christmas, Hope hosts North Central College (Illinois) on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m., and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater on Friday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m.
 
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