Alma, Mich. - The Alma College men's basketball team secured an 84-80 win over Kalamazoo College in the regular season finale on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon. The win solidifies a playoff berth for the Scots (13-12, 7-7 MIAA); it's their sixth MIAA postseason appearance in the last seven years.

The program recognized the accomplishments and dedication of its five-member senior class – Steven Harvey (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Eastern), Marcus Malling (Lowell, Mich. / Lowell), Zach Sinke (Grand Haven, Mich. / Grand Haven), Ryan Stevens (Lowell, Mich. / Lowell) and Kyle Woodruff (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Holly) – prior to the game.

The game was tightly contested all the way through. Neither team led by more than eight points at any time.

Alma found itself down by five with five minutes left after a 16-4 run by Kalamazoo. Harvey calmly sank a transition three and drew a foul to make it a one-possession game. Stevens tied the game two possessions later with a lefty scoop layup.

The senior point guard came up big on the defensive end, as well. He drew a charge on Kalamazoo's Tanner Blyly with the score still tied. It was one of Blyly's game-high four turnovers.

Alma took the lead for good with two minutes left when Harvey converted an and-1. He drove down the baseline and hesitated to draw contact from a defender, then hung and hit his fifth basket of the game. He added the free throw to put Alma up three.

Kalamazoo was left to chase for the rest of the game. Alma forced three Hornet misses from the field in the final 1:49 that would have either tied the game or given Kalamazoo the lead.

The Hornets went 2-for-7 from the field over the last four minutes. Alma went 3-for-6 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line over that same span.

Alma rode the three-ball late in the game, connecting on seven of their first nine threes in the second half. At one point, Sinke made three straight threes as part of a 14-2 run that gave Alma a 66-59 lead midway through the second half.

Cole Kleiver (Williamston, Mich. / Williamston) led all players with 29 points. He shot 70 percent from deep (a new career-high) with seven made threes (tying a career-high). Woodruff pulled down 10 boards for the third time in his career. He also dished out a career-high six assists. Sinke scored 19 points on a career-best five made threes. Harvey had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Stevens finished with 10 points, five boards, four dimes and two steals.

Alma will travel to Angola, Ind., to play Trine in the first round on the MIAA Tournament on Tuesday (Feb. 25). at 7:00 p.m.