GRANVILLE, Ohio – After suffering a setback on opening night in Ohio, the Alma College men's basketball team looked to right their wrongs on the second half of a doubleheader against Denison University, a team receiving preseason votes from d3hoops.com. The Scots hung around tight for a period before the Big Red pulled away and sent the Scots back to Michigan with the final score being 88-66.
Denison opened the scoring as they knocked down the game first bucket. Raine Rodich equalized the score just seconds later on a jump shot before the Big Red came back down and took their first lead of the game, in which they were able to extend to seven points. Two free throws and another Rodich jumper brought the Scots back within three. The Scots would have trouble getting the lead back to one-possession for the next handful of offensive trips down the court as Denison started to find their groove and start to pull away slowly. The Scots deficit hoovered around nine to 11 points for a majority of the remainder of the first half until the final minutes of the half. Five straight points from Donovan Collins on a three and a jumper brought the Scots within five though Denison would head into the break after three more points with an eight-point lead, 38-30.
Coming out of the break with a game very well in reach, Denison took to their defensive pressure and made the Scots fall quiet in the opening minutes on offense, adding to their lead again. A 13-0 run from the Big Red over five minutes brought the Scots to trail 25 with 12 minutes left to play, needing a courageous comeback to brew up. The Scots fund ways to score the ball though Denison would match the scores, making it difficult for the Scots to chip away at their task at hand. Alma was able to bring the score differential within 16 with under five minutes to play but the Big Red were able to compete a 2-0 weekend over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponents after upsetting the Calvin Knights the night before. Alma would end the game scoring 66 to Denison's 88, falling to 0-2 after the opening weekend games.
Rodich was Alma's highest point scorer with 21 in the contest on 9-12 shooting, while also tying for the team-high in rebounds with five. Brighton Gavin and Preston Malpass also collected five rebounds as well. Rodich was also the team leader in assists with four and Malpass registered a game-high two blocks between both squads. Collins added 13 for the Scots and Korbin Heitzman scored eight.
Alma will now head back home and prepare for their first home game of the season set to take place in Art Smith Arena on Wednesday, November 12th, as they welcome North Park University. Game time is set for 7:00 PM inside the Hogan Center on the campus of Alma College.
