Hope-Calvin rivalry game thrills to final moments

Another edition of the Hope vs. Calvin rivalry game, number 199, came down to some intense final seconds. The Flying Dutchmen fought back valiantly from game-long deficits against the Knights on Wednesday night in Van Noord Arena. After working from behind the entire game, Hope cut Calvin’s lead to one point in the final seconds.

The Flying Dutchmen just could not find the gas to sneak ahead and were edged out by the Knights, 74-70. Overall, Hope leads The Rivalry series 103- 96. The 200th Hope vs. Calvin rivalry game will be played at DeVos Fieldhouse on Saturday, February 2. One of the students attending the game was Andrew VandeBunte (’19), who remarked that “it’s awesome to see how big the rivalry can get between two smaller-sized colleges. There aren’t many rivalries in the country that can match the energy of Hope and Calvin. It is always fun to be in that kind of atmosphere, especially as a student cheering in the student section. It’s crazy to think this was already the 199th game for the rivalry and how close the all-time series stands. I’ve probably been to over 30 Hope vs. Calvin games in my life, and there is no doubt I’ll be there for the 200th meeting at DeVos Fieldhouse.” In the second half, the Knights took their lead to double digits again.

In the last minute of the game, the Flying Dutchmen made their deepest cut into Calvin’s lead thanks to junior guard Riley Lewis. He scored the last seven points for Hope in under a minute by sinking a pull-up jumper to move the Flying Dutchmen within two points with 56 seconds to go. The game ended with multiple trips to the free-throw line for the Knights; they made three of their last four free throws in the closing seconds, despite Hope’s attempts to force a miss and have a shot to take the lead. Despite the loss, Hope fought valiantly, and they will get another shot at Calvin on February 2. Their next matchup will be big as Hope will attempt to attone for their close setback.