Alma, Mich. - The Alma College men's basketball team stood tall through a 98-96 overtime setback to Hope College on Wednesday (Feb. 19) evening.

Alma (12-12, 6-7 MIAA) trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half but came back behind a sensational performance by Cole Kleiver (Williamston, Mich. / Williamston). The sophomore guard scored 28 second-half points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, 5-of-9 from three and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

Hope led by 24 at the 14:22 mark of the second half. Alma scored the next nine points to make it 61-46 with 11:38 left.

Later, an and-1 from Kleiver brought Alma to within eight with under five minutes left. On the next possession, a Hope miss led to a quick fastbreak layup from Ryan Stevens (Lowell, Mich. / Lowell) to Kleiver to make the score 79-74 with 3:12 left.

After a missed three from Stevens, he found Kleiver who nailed a pull-up three in transition to get Alma to within four with under two minutes to play. Stevens stole the ensuing inbound pass and called timeout. That led to Kleiver coming off a screen and hitting a three to make it 81-80, Hope.

Kleiver nearly brought the roof down on the next possession when he drained a three with a Hope defender in his face. That put Alma up 83-81.

Hope was able to tie the game and force via a Preston Granger layup. The Scots converted three and-1 opportunities in the extra period, one from Stevens and two from Steven Harvey (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Eastern).

The Scots took a 95-91 lead with 1:36 remaining after the second of Harvey's old-fashioned three-pointers. Hope's Clayton Dykhouse scored five straight points to put the Flying Dutchmen up with under a minute to play.

Kleiver led all players with 33 points. Its the fourth time he's scored over 30 this year and the second time in five games.

Both Stevens and Harvey had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Stevens added seven assists and four steals; Harvey added two of each. Kyle Woodruff (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Holly) scored 15 points off the bench.

Granger led the Flying Dutchmen with 30 points and 14 rebounds. Clayton Dykhouse had 21 and Tyler George added 19 off the bench.

Alma hosts Kalamazoo in its final game of the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 22) Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.