WHEATON, Ill. – The Alma College men's basketball team came away with a win over Heidelberg University on Friday, November 17th, in Wheaton, Illinois. The Scots scored in the final two seconds of the game to come away with an 86-84 win over the Student Princes, heading to the championship game of the Lee Pfund Classic.
Tyshaun Walker opened the scoring for the game knocking down a three in the first 40 seconds of the game. Following the Walker basket, Heidelberg was able to get on the scoreboard as both offenses started to click early. Both teams would take one possession leads early on but neither could pull away for more than several points at a time. With just over 13 minutes left in the first, Alma put together an 8-0 run to take a 23-15 lead, the largest of the game to that point. The Scots were able to keep their lead for several minutes before Heidelberg tightened the gap down to three with nine minutes remaining in the half. For the next several minutes of game play, the Scots would hold a one to two possession lead over the Student Princes as the final minutes of the first half looked to be a race to the buzzer. Alma was able to slowly extend their lead throughout the final minutes of the first, though Heidelberg would not back away easily. Again, heading into the final two minutes of the half, Heidelberg brought the game to within two at 40-42 before a jumper but the Student Princes tied the game with just over a minute remaining. Walker was able to give Alma the lead once again with a fast break layup in the final 50 seconds which ended up holding until halftime, giving Alma the lead heading into the second half, 44-42.
Walker kicked off the second half scoring with another layup to help extend the Alma lea in the second half. Heidelberg would take their first lead since early in the first with 16 minutes remaining as a quick jumper and three gave them a three-point lead. The lead then was extended to eight just three minutes later as the Scots had found themselves down their largest margin of the night. Gabe Bourdeau made a three which brought the deficit to five which then led to Connor Riley knocking down two free throws shortly after to bring the Scots within three again. The Student Princes would hold their lead and reestablish a multiple possession lead following several free throws and a layup with under ten minutes remaining in the game. Two layups by Riley and a Walker triple was enough to tie the game once again with under eight minutes remaining, as both teams headed down the stretch. Alma was quick to regain the lead after tying the game as Riley and Landen Moore-Pierce both got baskets inside the paint, putting Alma up four. Heidelberg brought the score within two with three minutes left before tying the game a minute later as the score went stagnant for both sides shortly. De'Quan Powell knocked down one of two free throws to go back up one, before a Walker three gave Alma a slight cushion with a four-point lead with a minute remaining in regulation. A good free throw and a made jumper brought with a foul brought Heidelberg with one with 20 seconds remaining. The and one attempt was converted on to tie the game at 84's, giving Alma the ball with the shot clock turned off. Following a timeout, Alma was able to inbound the ball and Walker handed off the ball to Riley, as he drove down the lane putting up a floater towards the basket that dropped with just over two seconds remaining give Heidelberg one last shot to end the game. A half-court heave was thrown up that hit the rim but did not fall from the Student Princes as Alma was able to escape with a win in the first game of the Lee Pfund Classic.
Riley and Walker led all scorers for the night as Riley ended with 28 and Walker with 27 points. Walker also collected ten rebounds on the night fir his first double-double of the season as he led the Scots in rebounds for the night. Riley also led the Scots in assists with four in the game as the team totaled 13 in the game. Alma was able to cause the Student Prices to turn the ball over 16 times and were able to score 30 points on second chance points, six more than Heidelberg.
Alma will now play in the championship game of the classic against Piedmont at 7:00 PM CST inside the King Arena on Wheaton's Campus on Saturday, November 18th.
