ALMA, Mich. – Coming off their second two-game win streak of the season, the Alma College men's basketball team welcomed Trine University to town on Saturday, January 31st, for a weekend midday matchup. The Scots fought tirelessly with the Thunder and put themselves in a good position throughout the game, though the Thunder came away with a win 72-55.
Trine opened the game on a 16-1 run, forcing the Scots to dig out of an early deficit and play catch up with few mistakes if they wanted back into the game. Alma did what nobody was expecting and went on a 21-4 run over the next eight minutes to take over the lead from the Thunder and put Trine in their first deficit of the day, led by Korbin Heitzman and Luciano Guerrazzi with some good baskets by Elijah Sykes and Josh Elliott as well. Alma would take a lead for the next handful of minutes before some free throws and good layups put the Thunder back on top with three minutes to play in the first. A 9-2 run from the visitors over the final minutes of the half would give them a seven-point halftime lead, 32-25 in a low-scoring affair.
Coming out of the half, this time it proved to be a more well-balanced game between both teams as no one went on a streaky run early to separate from one another. Trine continued to lead throughout the early minutes of the second half but couldn't pull away from the pesky Scots that have found new energy in games to bring in nerves and find key stops in the second half. Alma was able to knock the Thunder lead down to two with eleven minutes left in the game, but the Thunder then scored 14 to the Scots three over the next five minutes to pull away and take their first double-digit lead since early in the first half. Alma battled profusely throughout the final ticking minutes but there would just not be enough time left on the clock needed for a Scots comeback, as Trine would roll away with a 17-point victory in a game where it was closer than the final score appeared.
Korbin Heitzman led the Scots scoring with his tenth double-double of the season with 13 points and ten boards before fouling out late in the game. Elijah Sykes also reached double figures as he scored 11 while adding two assists. Guerrazzi added six boards in the game along with Joss Bradley notched three assists and Logan St. martin registered a block as well.
Alma will now head back on the road for a Wednesday night matchup with The University of Olivet Comets, who have found their way up near the top of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association standings at the halfway point of conference play. Game time is set for 7:00 PM.
