ALMA, Mich. – A total team performance was on full display inside Art Smith Arena on Wednesday night as Men's Basketball took on the Adrian College Bulldogs on January 28th. The Scots were able to eclipse triple-digits for the first time in two years as Alma put up 102 to the Bulldogs 79, for their second straight win.
Alma opened the game on a 6-0 run led by Elijah Sykes and Korbin Heitzman to kick things off before the Bulldogs came back on an 8-2 run to tie the game in the first five minutes of action. Alma again would regain the lead and stretch it back to five with help from Sykes and Joss Bradley as Alma looked to take a controllable lead for an extended timeframe. Adrian was able to tie the game back up four minutes later and take their first lead of the game at the halfway point of the first half. The Bulldogs were able to draw it out to seven for before a Scots run would bring the game back all square. An and-one and a three from the Bulldogs put the Scots down six again quickly, though Alma would battle back over a three-minute period to bring the score back to even at 35's a side. Both teams traded the lead throughout the final minute of the half before Alma took a halftime lead into the locker room thanks to a buzzer-beating three from Donovan Collins, bringing the halftime score to 45-42.
From the final shot of the first half to the final buzzer, the Scots took control of the game, coming out of the break knocking down back-to-back three's and building their lead to the edge of double-digits for the first three minutes. A 20-6 run from the home team over five minutes would bring the Scots lead up to 23 at the halfway point of the second half, as the Scots found their stride and confidence moving the ball around freely and tactically. Alma would take their largest lead of the game at 29 points on a layup from Raine Rodich, which at the time put Alma up 89-60 with seven minutes left to play. Both teams coming down the stretch would convert on the deep ball chances as each team wanted to show off their range, but ultimately the Scots lead was large enough that the game was put away before the final buzzer sounded. The Scots 102-79 win is the first time since November 30th, 2022, Alma scored 100 points at home, and the first time since February 18th, 2017, that the Scots scored triple-digits in a conference game.
Five Sots found double figures, led by Collins who collected 21 on 50% shooting and six of ten from beyond the arc. Riane Rodich followed behind with 19 points and three assists while Heitzman scored 16 and brought in nine rebounds, a team high. Sykes added another 13 with three assists and Bradley notched 11 with eight rebounds. Heitzman also register three blocks in the game while Logan St. Martin added another two. Alma was able to score 46 points in the paint along with 41 coming off the bench as well.
Alma will now look to continue with the momentum they have created as they will host the Trine University Thunder on Saturday, January 31st, as they will host Community Day. The game will tip off at 3:00 PM, with the first 50 spectators to receive a voucher for free popcorn from concessions.
