ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College men's basketball team opened the new year on Thursday, January 4th, with a conference win over Adrian 69-55. The Scots are now 1-0 in MIAA play as they head into the first weekend if conference games.
Adrian opened the scoring in 2024 with a layup to take their only lead of the game. After several possessions of no scoring, Adrian added another layup with just under 17 minutes to extend their lead to four before Alma raced down the court as Tyshaun Walker converted on a driving layup to put the Scots on the board. After a free throw make, Walker converted on another layup to give Alma their first lead of the game, which they would hold onto for the rest of the game. The Scots kept the ball rolling and extended the lead the double digits after a Donovan Collins three to put the Bulldogs down by 12. The Bulldogs offense would wake up and keep their deficit around 12 for the next several minutes. In the final minute of the half, Landen Moore-Pierce caught a pass from Connor Riley that set him up wide open for a three that he converted on, taking their largest lead of the half by 14, before Adrian would beat the buzzer and head into the half with the score 35-23.
The Scots picked up where they left off in the second half, opening play with a 7-2 run to extend their lead. With 15 minutes left to play in the game, Nolan Boffman drove to the hoop and made an easy two points, giving Alma a 17-point lead, before a quick 6-0 run from Adrian, bringing them closer to the Scots. The Scots then traded baskets for the next several minutes before Alma was able to pull away for their second-largest lead of the night, as Moore-Pierce scored on a layup in the paint. Just a couple minutes later Walker was sent to the free throw line and knocked down both, putting the Scots up by 21, their largest lead of the night. The Bulldogs would bring the score to within 14 by the final buzzer, but the Scots came away with an early conference win, 66-59.
Walker would lead the Scots in scoring with 19 on the night, with Riley following behind with 15 of his own. Riley was the team leader in assists for the game as he racked up six in the game as Walker and Colton Meister tied for the team lead in rebounds with six. The Scots found success in the paint as they outscored the Bulldogs 38-16 around the basket as well as converting on second chance points, again outscoring Adrian 13-2.
Alma will now have a day off before hosting Hope College on Saturday, January 6th. Tipoff is slated for 3:00 PM.
