GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin University men's basketball team topped Adrian College 92-59 in MIAA action on Wednesday at Van Noord Arena.
 
Calvin (14-6, 6-3 MIAA) was in control from start to finish, taking a lead in the opening minute and never relinquishing that advantage the rest of the game while building a lead as big as 39 points on the way to the win.
 
The Knights opened the game shooting well from the outside and built an early 18-6 lead thanks to four three-point field goals, including two from Parker Swartz (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview/Ohio Dominican) in the opening six minutes of play.
 
Calvin battled foul trouble throughout the first half, with Swartz, Luka Ressler (Caledonia, Mich./Catholic Central) and Zion Ruckard (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest/St. Thomas Aquinas) each picking up three early fouls but still went into halftime with a 48-31 lead thanks to a 23-13 rebounding advantage and 48.5 percent shooting on offense while holding Adrian (4-16, 1-8 MIAA) to 36.0 percent.
 
Jalen Overway (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) led Calvin with 13 first-half points while Swartz and Trevin Winkle (McBain, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian) each scored 10 in the half.
 
The Knights quickly pushed their halftime lead over 20 points early in the second half before extending it beyond 30 points with more than eight minutes to play before emptying the bench over the final minutes on the way to the win.
 
Calvin shot 51.7 percent in the second half, with Overway once again leading the offense with 11 points. Winkle and Justin McIllwain (Holland, Mich./Hamilton) each scored six in the half.
 
The Knights dominated the glass throughout the game, outrebounding the Bulldogs 47-23 overall and recording 14 offensive rebounds. Calvin also held the Bulldogs to 34.6 percent shooting for the game.
 
Overway led the Knights with a game-high 24 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Winkle added 16 points, seven assists and tied Brady Ewing (Petoskey, Mich./Petoskey) for the team lead with eight rebounds. Swartz finished with 14 points, and Ruckard scored 11 off the bench.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "I thought it was a little better defensive effort," Calvin head coach Bill Sall said. "We've struggled here to guard like I think we're capable of so I liked our defensive intensity. I liked our rebounding effort today. Those two things stood out. Great to see some guys making some shots. That opens thing like for Overway and everyone else. So lots of positives, and still a lot of things we've got to clean up yet."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin men's basketball will return to action on Saturday, February 7, when it hosts Kalamazoo College in a game scheduled to tip off at 3:00 PM at Van Noord Arena.