ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College men's basketball team held their annual Be Like Tye game against The University of Olivet on Saturday, February 17th, inside Art Smith Arena. In a packed house honoring the life of a fallen player and coach, the Scots battled back from a double-digit deficit and sent the game to overtime before the Comets converted on a last second layup attempt and snuck out of Alma with an 80-78 win over the Scots.
The Comets scored the first basket of the game before Alma made the next two from Xavier Glenn Jr. and Connor Riley. The Scots would hold onto the lead for the first five minutes of the game before Olivet regained the lead. Each team traded the lad for the next several possessions following before the Comets scored eight unanswered points to take their largest lead so far in the game. Alma was able to hold the Comets from adding more onto their lead for a short period of time, though the Comets would extend it to double-digits in the final minutes of the first half. Two straight three-pointers from Gabe Bourdeau and a basket in the paint from Riley brought Alma withing three with just over a minute remaining in the half. A pair of free throws and a layup from Olivet extended their lead to seven as time expired in the first half, sending the Scots into the locker room trailing 40-33.
Alma came out of the half looking to cut the Olivet lead down and take a lead of their own, But the Comets held strong and kept the Scots away through the halfway point of the second frame. With nine minutes remaining in the game, the Comets took their largest lead of the game at 17, igniting the Scots offense fueled off of the biggest crowd of the season. Donovan Collins brought the comeback to life with a made three followed quickly by Glenn Jr's converted and-one attempt. Walker scored four of the Scots next ten points as he drove to the rim and scored two tough layups in the paint while Collins scored the other six with two makes behind the arc. With time ticking away, the Scots put together a 12-1 run down to the two-minute mark in the game to bring themselves within one. Olivet was then able to score a quick basket to put themselves back up three, leading to Collins nailing a mid-range jumper to again put the Scots down one. Olivet then had a chance to put the Scots down three with less than 15 seconds left at the free-throw line but a make and a miss only put the Scots down two with time on the clock. Walker watched the clock tick down to the final seconds and drove towards the hoop where the ball bounced around the rim and back towards the paint into Glenn Jr's hands where he was able to tip the ball into the basket with just tenths of a second remaining, sending the game to overtime.
Alma got on the board first in OT as Walker made both free throw attempts, putting Alma up two. Olivet responded with a three to retake the lead, then leading to each team trading baskets and the lead for the next three possessions. Alma took the lead back at the charity stripe as Riley made both attempts, with Alma now leading by one. Olivet was then sent to the line where they would go one of two to tie the game with under a minute remaining. After defensive stops on both sides, Alma wad possession with 33 seconds remaining, holding the ball for hopefully the last shot and a chance at a comeback win. A missed jumper in the paint and a bouncing ball found its way into a Comet's players hand racing down the court and laying the ball in with 0.6 seconds remaining. Alma inbounded the ball and sent a shot off the backboard and Olivet's buzzer beater held as a spoiler to the Scots.
Walker led the Scots in scoring with 24 for the game, as Collins was the next highest with 14 on 4-4 shooting from behind the arc. Walker and Riley both collected eight rebounds each in the game to tie for the team high along with Riley dishing out six assists for the game high between both teams. The Scots shot 7-15 from downtown on the night, helping lead charge on the comeback attempt.
Alma also honored their 2024 senior class at the game that included Landen Moore-Pierce, Walker, De'Quan Powell, Glenn Jr, Cleveland Baker, Riley, Colton Meister, and Bourdeau.
Alma will now await MIAA Tournament seeding for a Tuesday contest with an opponent to be determined.
