By Mark DeHaan

KALAMAZOO - The Knights and Hornets faced off in a match-up of teams at opposite ends of the league standings on Wednesday evening. Calvin entered at 8-2 and tied for first overall while Kalamazoo was 2-8 and tied for last in the league.

Calvin came out on top Wednesday night 92-63 and with the win, snared sole possession of first place in the MIAA standings, moving a game ahead of Trine which fell at Alma 58-53 Wednesday evening.

Behind a fast first half from junior Jordan Daley and a strong team defensive effort, Calvin went up by double-digits early and did not look back, earning a 92-63 victory on the road.

For the opening minutes, Kalamazoo stuck with the Knights, tying the game at 15-15 with 12:08 to go in the first.

Over the next five minutes, Calvin pulled away with a 19-8 run, led by 14 points from Daley, including a pair of three-pointers. The run gave the Knights a double-digit lead at 34-23.

Over the final 7:24, the Knights held the Hornets to just three field goals as Calvin took a 49-32 lead into the break.

On the final play of the first half, Daley sent the team into halftime on an exclamation point as he stole an inbounds pass and went coast-to-coast for a buzzer-beating layup.

Daley had 20 points at the break on 8-of-8 shooting, 2-of-2 from three point range. As a team, the Knights shot 56.3% in the first half.

Out of the break, Calvin continued to play the strong defense with which it had ended the first half. The Knights held the Hornets to 29.4% shooting from the field in the second half, including 2-of-10 from behind the three-point line.

Calvin saw its largest lead of the ball game with 1:44 remaining in the game at 92-61. 

The final score then settled at 92-63, the Knights largest margin of victory this season.

Calvin shot 49.2% for the ball game, holding the Hornets to 37.1% shooting overall and just 4-of-17 for 23.5% from three-point range. The Knights out-rebounded Kalamazoo 44-30, with 15 of Calvin's boards coming on the offensive glass.

Individually, Daley scored a career-high 25 to lead the Knights. Senior Jordan Brink added 16 points while sophomore Cameron Denney had 14 points and five rebounds. Freshman Connor VanderBrug also finished in double-digits with 12 points.

For Kalamazoo, Jason Hugan had 16 points and eight rebounds. Adam Dykema scored 12, Mike Oravetz added 11, and Keith Garber contributed 10.

"Jordan (Daley) had a good game last time against Kalamazoo, but he was 3-for-13 from the free throw line, so I think he wanted to come out ready tonight," said head coach Kevin Vande Streek. "Overall I thought we played well but we still have room for improvement."

Saturday's matchup against Trine will have huge implications with first place on the line. In the first meeting of the year between the two teams, Trine handed Calvin a 62-47 defeat.

"Trine sure stuck it to us down there at their place and they have an excellent team," said Vande Streek. "I think, obviously, you'd love to go down the stretch with a four game lead, but that's not very realistic. By saying you control your own destiny, and with the game at home, we're set up for where we want to be."

The Knights improve to 16-6 overall and 9-2 in the MIAA with the win over the Hornets, while Kalamazoo falls to 7-15 and 2-9 in league play.

Prior to Saturday's game against Trine, Calvin will honor its four seniors. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.