ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College men's basketball team looked to continue their conference win streak as the Calvin University Knights came to town on Wednesday, January 31st. The Knights struggled the past couple games as they went from being ranked #4 to. #12 after back-to-back losses in conference play, as the Scots looked to make it three in a row. Calvin would get the better of the Scots for the night as the Knights came away with a win over Alma, 77-62.
Calvin jumped out to an early lead and extended it to several possessions as the Knights scored the first 11 points of the game unanswered. Tyshaun Walker would then score the first basket for the Scots, as they looked to trim down the deficit. Several minutes passed by as each team traded baskets with one another before a three from Landen Moore-Pierce brought the lead to eight, then leading to a turnover and a layup good from Walker, to bring the game within six. The next offensive possession for the Scots saw Gabe Bourdeau find Donovan Collins open behind the arc, where he would knock that down and bring Alma within four just shy of the halfway mark in the first. The Knights then would stretch the lead back to a three-possession lead before the Scots again found success on the offensive side of the court. A good layup and free throw by Xavier Glenn Jr. and a layup from Connor Riley brought the Scots within three again before another layup from Glenn Jr brought the score within one. With just over five minutes left in the first half, Alma took their first lead of the night on a Walker layup to put the Scots up one. Calvin then quickly regained the lead and went on a 7-0 run to take a two-possession lead. After some late baskets from both side, Alma headed into the break trailing 37-31.
The Scots came out of the blocks quick to start the second half as Colton Meister opened the scoring for either side. The Knights came out ready for a showdown as well and looked to make the Scots work for a chance to upset. Back-to-back possessions for the Scots saw made triples from Walker and Gabe Bourdeau, but the Knights would respond with their own to limit the comeback. The Scots would continue to bring the Knights lead to six, but never any closer for the remainder of the game. Short runs of consecutive makes from Calvin would prove to be too much for the Scots as the Knights lead slowly increased as time ticked away late in the contest. In an energetic Art Smith Arena, the bid for an upset fell short as Calvin got back on track and ended their losing skid, defeating Alma, 77-62.
Leading the scoring for Alma was Walker with 15 points along with Moore-Pierce and Riley each tallying 11. Walker also led the Scots with seven rebounds and four assists for the game. Glenn Jr recorded two blocks in the game as Riley and Bourdeau each snagged three steals. The Scots were able to cause the Knights to turn the ball over 15 times, as well as outscoring the Calvin bench 29-9 throughout the game.
Alma will now head down to Indiana to face off against the nationally ranked Trine Thunder on Saturday, February 3rd. The Scots will tip off against their second consecutive ranked opponent at 3:00 PM inside the MTI Center on the campus of Trine University.
