OLIVET, Mich. – Back on the road for one of their last few remaining Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association road games of the season, the Alma College men's basketball team had a date with The University of Olivet Comets on Wednesday, February 4th inside the Cutler Event Center. The Scots were outpaced in the long run by the Comets, even with another 30-point game coming from the Scots forward Korbin Heitzman.
Alma downed the games first basket on a layup from Heitzman, followed by a swift four points from the Comets before Elijah Sykes knocked down a three to regain the lead. The back-and-forth game continued for the next several minutes until back-to-back jumpers from Heitzman game the Scots a three-point lead and two consecutive makes on offense with a defensive stop in the middle. Alma would hold the Comets in check for the first ten minutes of the first half, making the home squad match the Scots makes on offense early on. The league co-leading Comets found their stride and settled in past the halfway point of the opening half as they pieced together a brief 10-0 run to take a double-digit lead over Alma before the Scots offense returned to the box score. Olivet proceeded to keep the pressure on offensively and allowed their defense to dictate the remainder of the first half's flow as the Scots struggled to convert as well as they had in the previous handful of games. Alma was able to slowly ship away at the end of the half to bring the score to 38-24 in favor of the Comets heading into the pause.
Alma's offense was choppy to begin the second half, coupled with a Comets team that picked up where they left off, Stretching their lead to 20 in the first five minutes of action. The polished offense of the Comets kept their foot on the pedal as the Scots looked to cut down the score difference, creating a tough situation in an unfavorable environment on the road. Alma kept finding success down low to Heitzman throughout the second half, giving the big man lanes and looks that he was able to convert on, matching the Olivet makes on the other end of the floor. The remainder of the game was back-and-forth where neither team went on an offensive run, and baskets were traded equally coming down the stretch. The final score would show favor towards the home team, 90-62, as the Scots fell to the Comets in the second meeting of the season.
Heitzman recorded his second 30+ point game of the season, scoring half the team's points for the night. Sykes added another 12 while tying for the team lead in rebounds with five. Logan St. Martin also collected five rebounds and led the team with three assists in the game. Alma added 16 points off second chance opportunities in the game as well.
The Scots will now return to Alma for a weekend matchup with the Hope College Flying Dutchmen on Saturday, February 7th, for the annual "Be Like Tye" game to honor to life and career of former basketball player and coach Tye Edwards. Tip off for the contest is set for 3:00 Pm following the conclusion of the women's game against #13/8 Hope as well.
