ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College men's basketball team opened up MIAA Tournament play on home court for the first time in program history since the addition of the postseason conference tournament. The Scots gave it everything they had though Adrian came away with the victory and advancing along in the tournament, to a final score of 68-56.
Alma opened up the scoring for the game on a 7-0 run to take an early lead. The Bulldogs stormed back quickly putting together a 18-2 run to take their first lead of the game and lead by nine. Alma then found their stride on offense again and tightened the score back up, bringing the deficit back within four. Following free throw attempts where the Bulldogs went one for two, Donovan Collins brought the Scots within two after a made three with less than four minutes remaining in the first half. Nick Seifert from Adrian responded with a three of his own to push the Bulldog lead back to five. Two makes at the line from Tyshaun Walker and a good layup from Connor Riley again brought the Scots within two with a minute remaining in the half, but the Bulldogs would tally two more makes on before Walker ended the half on a driving layup make. Alma headed into the half trailing by four, 31-27.
Alma again came out strong to open the half, going on a 9-2 run to regain the lead over Adrian. Again, the Scots got stagnant on offense and Adrian then went on a run of their own, 11-1, to take the lead back and create drama heading into the final ten minutes of play. The Scots would trade makes on offense with the Bulldogs and chip away throughout second half but costly turnovers and defensive stops by Adrian put a damper on the comeback of the middle part of the second half. With just over three minutes left in the game, the Bulldogs led by as much as 13, almost putting Alma out of reach. Four straight points from Nolan Boffman and a three from Gabe Bourdeau brought Alma back within six, a two-possession game, late in the second half. Costly misses at the line from Adrian again kept Alma hanging around as Colton Meister kept the Scots within six, but it would be the final minute free throws and fouls that held the Scots comeback bid short. Adrian ended the game making the last six points and holding Alma scoreless to advance along in MIAA Tournament play this weekend.
Walker led the Scots in scoring for the night with 14, followed by Boffman with 11 and Riley with 10. Meister collected 11 rebounds on the night to go with his seven points and Riley dished out three assists. Meister also recorded three blocks in the game as Boffman recorded another five steals to add to his record. Alma was able to outscore the Bulldogs in the paint 32-26, but the Adrian bench was able to score 25, a key part to their upset.
Alma finishes the 2024 season 11-15 and 5-9 in conference play, building off the prior season, and hoping to climb the standing s next season.
