The Hope College men's basketball team overcame a heap of obstacles to repel an unrelenting attack from the Vikings of North Park University (Ill.).

The shorthanded Flying Dutchmen banded together against their unbeaten foe to earn a 80-73 victory on Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Without an injured Evan Thonas, senior co-captain and reigning MIAA MVP, Hope answered when a first-half, 20-point lead evaporated and became a three-point deficit midway through the second half.

The Flying Dutchmen outscored North Park, 25-15, over the final 9 minutes, 24 seconds to claim their third win in four tries this season.

"I'm so happy we found a way to win," head coach Greg Mitchell said. "I was a lot happier when we built a 15, 20-point lead because of the way we were playing. We were in attack mode. We were taking care of the basketball. (North Park is) a very athletic team that's not going to stop. We got sloppy with the ball. I don't think we handled part of it well enough.

"I've got to give our guys credit. We were down three and people can start doubting. We didn't doubt. That's growth within a game. We're going to miss ET for a bit, his voice and his sense of calm. But our guys have a chance to get better."

North Park (2-1) used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to grab a 58-55 lead. With a three-quarters court press, the Vikings forced one of Hope's season-high 28 turnovers to create a fast-break layup for Adam Bulwa with 9:48 remaining.

The Flying Dutchmen pulled even on the next possession on a 3-pointer from the top of the key from junior forward Tanner Wiegerink (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa).

Hope took back the lead for good at 62-60 on a layup from sophomore center Gabe Quillan (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central). Quillan finished with a career-high 24 points.

The Flying Dutchmen pushed the lead to two possessions with 5 ½ minutes remaining by capitalizing on a North Park technical and getting two free throws from senior guard Clayton Dykhouse and a split at the line from Quillan. North Park never made it a one-possession game again.

Dykhouse finished with a game-high and season-high 26 points. Dykhouse made all 11 of his free-throw attempts.

North Park put three players in double figures, including forward Kolden Vanlandingham with a team-high 23 points.

Freshman guard Marcus Wourman (East Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing) chipped in eight points after making his first collegiate start for the Flying Dutchmen.

Junior forward Eli Schoonveld (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian added six points as well as season-highs with eight rebounds and three blocks in 24 minutes. 

Hope also received six points apiece from Wiegerink, senior forward TJ McKenzie Jr. and freshman guard Ethan Crabtree (Coldwater, Michigan / Coldwater).

The Flying Dutchmen's next game is Saturday, Nov. 26, at 3 p.m. against Rockford University at DeVos Fieldhouse.