Defiance, Ohio - The Alma College men's basketball team returned from its holiday break on Thursday evening, falling to Hanover College (IN) by an 81-67 margin in the first game of the 42nd Annual Purple and Gold Tournament on the campus of Defiance College. The Scots (3-7 overall) were led by senior Chase Fairchild (Rockford, Mich./Rockford), who scored 15 points, hitting six of his nine shots from the floor, including a trio of three-pointers.

Hanover (8-1) was led by Wes McKinney, who scored a game-high 26 points as the Panthers shot 58 percent from the field and nearly 44 percent from behind the arc.

Senior Tyler Edwards (Flint, Mich./Swartz Creek), along with freshmen Preston Laketa (Concord, Mich./Hanover-Horton) and Steven Harvey (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ada) also scored in double-figures, with each player netting 11 points. Laketa led the team in rebounding, collecting a team-high eight boards.

Both teams held a seven-point lead during the first half, and the Scots entered the break with a 35-33 lead. Alma was outscored 48-32 in the second half, repelling every advance the Scots made to try and take the lead.

Alma will close out it's non-conference scheduled and face host Defiance College on Friday, Dec. 30, at 7:00 p.m. in the final game of the tournament.