Alma, Mich. - The Alma College men's basketball team defeated Olivet College 96-88 on Wednesday (Feb. 12) evening in an emotional matchup. Sam Hargraves, Olivet's head coach, coached at Alma from 2011-19.

Ryan Stevens (Lowell, Mich. / Lowell) scored a career-high 27 points to go along with 10 assists. Kyle Woodruff (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Holly) had 21 points off the bench, including five three-pointers. Jack Poling (Portland, Ore. / Westview) scored 15 points and Brandon Rake (Whitehall, Mich. / Whitehall) grabbed 10 rebounds.

The game was tightly contested all the way through, much like the previous matchup. Alma led for the majority of the game and pulled away in the final few minutes. Its biggest lead in the game was 13, which it got with two minutes left.

Alma (12-10, 6-5 MIAA) began to flirt with a double-digit lead midway through the second half. Cole Kleiver (Williamston, Mich. / Williamston) delivered with back-to-back threes, drawing a foul on the second and converting the four-point play.

Later with under three minutes to go, Stevens drew a foul while muscling in a tough bucket in the paint. He, too, converted the and-1.

The Scots had great success from behind the three-point line. They shot 47 percent on a season-high 15 makes. Woodruff's five threes were one off his season-best, while Stevens tied his career-high with four.

Alma will head to Calvin University on Saturday (Feb. 15). Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. The Scots will return to Art Smith Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 19) against Hope College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.