GRAND RAPIDS — The Hope-Calvin rivalry never needs more on the line than The Rivalry itself.

But Saturday’s game had plenty on the line and made it one of the best rivalry matchups in the storied history of Hope-Calvin basketball.

The No. 6 Flying Dutchmen did just enough to earn their 100th win in The Rivalry, claiming the outright Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association title with the 65-61 victory Saturday, Feb. 20, at Van Noord Arena. Hope did so winning on the same floor that ended its season last year on a last-second shot.

“We are thrilled with the win. It is a much better feeling than a year ago,” Hope coach Greg Mitchell said. “We survived the early punches. They made some runs but we didn’t waiver.”

Hope (23-2, 13-1 MIAA) leads the all-time series 100-93. Calvin (10-15, 5-9 MIAA) needed a win to reach the MIAA Tournament.

“It is the greatest feeling in the world, especially after what happened last year,” Hope’s Cody Stuive said. “You really can’t even describe it.”

Stuive had the key play down the stretch, doing it on the defensive end of the floor.

Calvin chipped into the lead, cutting it to 59-54 on a basket by Tony Canonie but Stuive grabbed a big rebound over two Calvin defender and was fouled.

As he clenched the ball, Ben Gardner came up and put his arm around Stuive and got a smile out of him.

“I saw him driving and I yelled at him to go help because he is a better help defender than me. It was a great defensive play,” Gardner said. “He altered the shot and grabbed the rebound. I was pumped and I knew he was going to hit those free throws.”

He made both free throws to put Hope up 61-54.

“The smile came from shooting free throws together in practice. He just said he sees me hit them all the time, and it helped me zone everything out and focus on the shots,” Stuive said.

Calvin’s Austin Parks hit a 3 and Canonie scored again to pull the Knights within 63-61 but Harrison Blackledge made both free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

After Carlson and Cam Denney traded shot clock buzzer-beaters, Calvin’s Jordan Daley converted a three-point play to pull the Knights within 47-46.

“We invested everything we have in the tank,” Calvin coach Kevin Vande Streek said. “Another two rebounds or two baskets — and unfortunately that is where we have been this year. We are disappointed it’s over. It is the fewest wins in my 20 years, but I would coach them again tomorrow.”

Stuive scored underneath to put Hope up 49-46 with 7:38 to go.

Mike Siegel pulled the Knights within striking distance. He pulled Calvin within 43-38 with a basket, then hit a 3 to trim the lead to 43-41 with 13:44 to go in the game.

The first half was back-and-forth in the traditional Hope-Calvin way.

But in the final two minutes, Hope got some separation as Dante Hawkins hit a 3 with a minute to go, then added a pull-up jumper in the lane with eight seconds to go to put Hope up 37-30 at halftime.

“We fought back and Dante hit a couple big shots, which was huge,” Brock Benson said.

Benson had 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead Hope. Blackledge had 11 points, Hawkins (Holland) had 10, Gardner had nine, Stuive had eight and Carlson had eight.

“We have some goals and today was one of them,” Gardner said. “We are definitely excited about it, but we have some more goals to accomplish.”

Daley scored 20 for Calvin. Denney added 14 points. Nick Kronemeyer (Hamilton) had two steals and two rebounds.

“After the game was really emotional,” Daley said. “It is not always the happiest moment, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

— Follow this reporter on Twitter @DanDAddona.