NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – Cruising down to Indiana on a chilly November Wednesday night, the Alma College men's basketball team tipped off against the Spartans of Manchester University for some evening action. The Scots found success in the paint from their big men and notched their first victory of the season by a final score of 77-65.
Logan St. Martin opened the scoring for the Scots on the night, scoring his first attempt of 12 for the game, where he would only miss once throughout the game. Alma and Manchester went back-and-forth scoring throughout the first ten minutes of play, where neither team could build up more than a two-possession lead. The Spartans would hold a six-point lead, the largest of the first half, with three minutes left in the opening half, though the Scots would bring it back to a tie game with under a minute remaining, A last second tip-in from Manchester gave the Spartans a two-point halftime lead, 33-31.
The Spartans opened the second half with a three to take a two-possession lead once again, where the lead would stay for the first four minutes of the latter half. Led by St. Martin and Korbin Heitzman, a 9-0 run from the Scots would give Alma their first lead of the half just a minute later. Another 10-0 run from the Scots over four minutes during the middle frame of the second half gave Alma a chance to start pulling away and looking towards adding that first win of the year. Manchester pressure would come about shortly after, finding ways to score and chip away at the Scots attainable lead. Alma would be able to match the scoring from the Spartans, helping limit the attack on their lead looking to close the game out. Manchester would bring their deficit within single digits with less than three minutes remaining, but the Scots would make the stops needed along with a couple baskets offensively to hold on and head back to the "Mitten State" with a win in the back pocket.
St. Martin, as noted earlier, shot 11 of 12 for 26 points including two for three from deep to lead the Scots in scoring. St. Martin also secured 12 rebounds, six offensively and six defensively for his first double-double of the season. Elijah Sykes added 16 off the bench and Heitzman recorded 13 for the Scots in double-digits. Alma as able to outscore the Spartans in points off turnovers with 14, second chance points with 18 and bench points with 27 in the game. Alma also outscored Manchester 42-38 in the paint throughout the game.
Alma now looks towards an exhibition with Saginaw Valley State University on Saturday, November 22nd, as the Scots will travel to University Center, Michigan. Tip off is slated for 3:00 PM.
