ANGOLA, Ind. – Desperate to punch its ticket to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament, Trine University hit eight of its first 10 shots in the second half to build a double-digit lead and go on to score a 76-66 victory over Albion College on the final day of the men's basketball regular season.

Despite the loss, Albion (14-11 overall and 10-4 against MIAA rivals) has the No. 3 seed for the league tournament. The Britons will meet Alma College in a 3 p.m. Friday semifinal at Hope College.

Kyle Dodson, Will Dixon and Tarvis Malone all hit 3-point shots as Trine seized a 13-9 lead four minutes into the game, but that would be the largest lead for either team in the first half.

Jalyin Fordham scored seven points – all from the free throw line – in the first half as Albion trailed 35-33 at halftime. Albion forged a tie at 35 when Travell Oakes finished a layup, but it never led in the second half.

Trine shot 53 percent from the field, including 63 percent from 3-point range in the second half. Dodson, Dixon, Jared Holmquist and Jordan Kreglow hit 3-point shots as the Thunder claimed a 49-39 lead with 15 ½ minutes to play. Albion got no closer than six the rest of the way.

Holmquist led all players with 35 points, hitting 12-of-13 from the free throw line. Dixon finished with 16.

Oakes, who was 7-of-9 from the field, produced his second 20-point game of the season. He fell a rebound shy of completing the double-double.

Jordan Herron and Robert Ryan finished with 11 points apiece for the Britons.