Defiance, Ohio - The Alma College men's basketball team was victorious in its non-conference finale on Friday (Dec. 30) evening, defeating Defiance College, 76-64, in the final game of the Purple and Gold Invitational at Defiance's Weaner Center. Alma improved its record to 4-7 overall, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 3-8.

Senior Trevor Gernaat (McBain, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian/Mid-Michigan CC) paced Alma with 13 points - all in the second half - as the Scots shot 50 percent from the floor. Senior Tyler Edwards (Flint, Mich./Swartz Creek) posted a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while senior Chase Fairchild (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) also netted 11 points. Junior Kevin Scheibert (Sanford, Mich./Sanford-Meridian) also scored in double figures, scoring 10 points.

The Scots scored the first four points of the game and jumped out to a 10-point lead halfway through the opening stanza. Alma led by as many as 14 points in the first 20 minutes, but Defiance hit the final two baskets before the break to cut into the lead and give the Scots a 39-29 advantage at the break. The Yellow Jackets pulled to within five points early in the second half, but Alma was able to repel the advance and regained a double-digit lead with 11:52 to play. Defiance cut the Alma lead to seven points with 6:07 to play, but the Scots responded with a three-pointer by Gernaat and led the Jackets by at least eight points the rest of the way.

Alma shot 86.7 percent from the free-throw line, making 13 of its 15 attempts, including the final six shots to preserve its lead down the stretch.

The Scots will open play in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association on Wednesday, Jan. 4., hosting Kalamazoo College as part of a doubleheader at Art Smith Arena. The women's team will play Olivet at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men's contest against the Hornets at 8:00 p.m.