KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Alma College men's basketball team braved the conditions and traveled south to Kalamazoo for an evening match up against the Hornets on Saturday, January 13th. The Scots trailed early on but fought back and brought the game to overtime where a last second attempt to win the game was stopped and the Scots fell, 91-90.
Alma opened the scoring for the game taking a 2-0 lead before the Hornets would take over from there for a majority of the game. Kalamazoo would open their scoring with a 12-0 run to take an early double-digit lead over the Scots. The Scots themselves then held the Hornets scoreless as they put together a 7-0 run quick to bring the game back within reach. Again, Kalamazoo found some stops on defense and extended their lead back to double-digits halfway through the first, stumping the Alma offense. The Scots would hang around the low teens for the deficit in the first until late where the Hornets at one point would hold a 17-point lead. The sluggish half from the Scots sent them into halftime trailing 43-29.
The Scots came out of the break ready to fight their way back into the game as they opened the scoring in the second half as well before trading scores with the Hornets. Alma would then find some valuable stops near the middle of the half to help to chip away at the deficit in front of them. The Landen Moore-Pierce show came about in the second half as he would go on for five three-pointers made in the half, a large part for the comeback bid. A Moore-Pierce three with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half ignited the Scots offense as the basket brought Alma within seven with a lot of game left to play. Just two minutes later, another Moore-Pierce three brought the Scots within four, as the Scots offense found ways to break through. With eight minutes left in the game, Alma took their first lead since the opening minute of play and look towards the finish to cash in on another conference win. Kalamazoo would not budge coming down the stretch as the Scots struggled to take more than a one-possession lead until the final buzzer. Both teams found ways to convert on offense but struggled to get much needed stops to keep the game from going to an extra frame. A last second miss from the Hornets with the game tied meant that extra time was needed and the fans were getting some free basketball on a Saturday evening.
The Hornets took over the game to start the overtime period after the Scots had outscored them in the second half, putting Alma in another deficit for the night. Through half of the extra period, Kalamazoo took a seven-point lead meaning another Scots comeback was going to be needed with time ticking against them. Connor Riley and Nolan Boffman would be sent to the line in overtime and each would knock down both, both proving to be very important. A layup from Boffman with under 20 seconds remaining would bring Alma within three before Tyshaun Walker was sent to the line with eight seconds remaining. Walker would also make both from the charity stripe to bring the game within one before a costly turnover from the Hornets on an inbound attempt gave the Scots the ball with a chance to win. After a missed layup and an offensive team rebound, Alma had another chance to win the game with three seconds left, but a tipped inbound attempt gave the Hornets the ball and the win as time expired.
Leading all scorers on the floor was Moore-Pierce as he cashed in for 21 points, with Walker and Riley following behind with 19 and 17, respectively. Walker ended the game with nine rebounds, one short of a double-double, along with Riley finishing the game with seven assists, tying for the game-high. Moore-Pierce finished the night shooting 5-10 from behind the arc, along with the Scots outscoring Kalamazoo on second chance points, 9-3.
Alma will now travel to Albion College for a midweek match up against the Britons to get back in the win column. Tipoff for the Wednesday contest is set for 7:30 PM.
