ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College men's basketball team hosted Hope College on Wednesday, Feb. 2. The Scots fell to the Flying Dutchmen by a final score of 79-71. 

Alma opened the scoring with the first five points of the game. Hope battled back, but the Scots maintained a lead until 14 minutes remaining in the first half.

Hope extended its lead to 11, with nine minutes remaining in the half, until Brandon Rake converted on two offensive opportunities with a layup and a dunk. Alma would continue to battle back from its eight-point deficit in the final four minutes of the half. This time, Brandon Whiteside knocked down a three-pointer and a layup in consecutive possessions to close the gap on the Flying Dutchmen. Alma went into halftime trailing 35-33.  

Coming out of halftime, both teams continued to keep the game within reach and converted on offensive opportunities. With 13 minutes remaining, Cole Kleiver knockseddown a jump shot to make it a one-point game. Hope continued the offensive pressure and stretched the lead out again, but the Scots hung in tight.

After multiple three-pointers made by Cole Kleiver and some defensive stops, Brandon Rake grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up and in, to put the Scots down one with five minutes remaining. Hope would again convert offensively to stretch the lead, but the Scots again would come back and knock down two more threes to bring the game within four. Ultimately, Hope would knock down the final-minute free throws to overtake the Scots and improve to 7-1 in MIAA play.  

Leading the Scots in total points was Cole Kleiver, with 22. Brandon Rake followed behind with 16 of his own and a team-leading 11 rebounds, to give him another double-double on the season. The Scots have 11 total assists as a team and outrebounded the Flying Dutchmen 37-30. Alma also converted 12 points off second chance opportunities.  

The Scots' next game is at home against Trine University on Saturday, Feb. 5. The game will tip off at 3 p.m. Alma will be honoring the Angel Wings Foundation with its annual "Pink Game." 

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