(images courtesy of Steve Frommell, d3photography.com)
DePere, Wis. - Facing its fourth nationally-ranked opponent of the 2015-16 season, the Alma College men's basketball team shot over 50 percent from the field and from behind the three-point line to defeat No. 23 St. Norbert, 82-65, in the championship game of the Nicolet National Bank Holiday Tournament. The Scots improved to 7-4 for the season while St. Norbert suffered its second loss of the year, falling to 9-2.
The win marked the first victory for the Scots this year over a team ranked in the Top 25 of the D3hoops.com poll. Entering the game, Alma was 0-3 against ranked opponents this season.
Senior Scott Nikodemski (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) led all scorers with a season-high 23 points and was named the tournament's most valuable player. Nikodemski, who scored 20 points in back-to-back games for the second time in his career, was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, including 2-for-2 from the three-point line, and was 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He also dished out eight assists.
Senior DJ Beckman (Shelby, Mich./Shelby) pumped in 19 points, including five three-pointers, and was also named to the all-tournament team. Sophomore Doug Bradfield (Mason, Mich./Mason) and junior Chase Fairchild (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Bradfield also added three blocks, and finished the tournament with eight total rejections.
Both teams played tight to each other in the first half, with neither team able to get ahead by more than five points. Alma entered the break with a 35-31 advantage, then poured it on in the second half, outscoring the Green Knights by a 47-34 margin in the final 20 minutes. The Scots were able to build a double-digit lead with 13:35 to go in the game and then began to pull away, eventually leading by 16 with 6:36 to play. St. Norbert cut the lead to eight points with 4:51 remaining, but Alma responded and finished the game with a 13-6 run.
The Scots shot 55.6 percent (30-54) for the game, marking the seventh time this season Alma has shot better than .500. The Scots also hit a season-high 53.6 percent of their three-point shots, making 14 of 28 shots from behind the arc. Alma held the Green Knights to just .382 from the floor. Ben Bobinski led St. Norbert with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Alma will open play in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association on Wednesday, Jan. 6, traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face Kalamazoo College. The Scots defeated the Hornets twice last season and enter the game with a five-game winning streak in MIAA regular-season games. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Kalamazoo's Anderson Athletic Center.
NOTES
• The Scots' seven non-conference wins are the most since tallying seven in the 2005-06 campaign.
• Alma is 7-2 in its last nine games.
• The Scots finished with a 6-1 record in the month of December.
• Alma has won its last two road games, defeating Wheaton College on Dec. 12 and St. Norbert. Alma is 2-3 on the road this season and 3-1 in neutral site contests. At Art Smith Arena, the Scots are 2-0.
• Alma won the Nicolet National Bank Holiday Tournament title in its second appearance. During the 2013-14 campaign, the Scots lost to No. 14 St. Norbert, 103-69 and suffered an 87-84 setback to Buena Vista.
• The Scots shot over 50 percent from the field for the seventh time this season.
• Alma's 53.6 percent shooting from three-point range was a season-high.
• The Scots have scored 80 or more points in each of the last four games.
• Scott Nikodemski's 23 points were a season-high. He also tied a career-high with two three-point shots and 37 minutes of playing time. Nikodemski has scored in double-figures in all but one game this season.
• DJ Beckman tied a season-high with five three-pointers and also tied a career-high with six assists. Beckman's 19 points marked the sixth straight game scoring in double-figures.
• Doug Bradfield has scored 10 or more points in three of his last four games. In addition, he has recorded two or more blocks in each of his last nine outings.
QUOTES
Head Coach Sam Hargraves
"This was a huge program win for us. To beat a great team on their home floor makes me so proud of these guys. We showed some poise tonight that we haven't been able to do in some of the other close games this year. Our second half defense again I thought was the key. It's much easier to score when you're rebounding and getting stops. I thought Scott (Nikodemski) and DJ (Beckman) played with the urgency of two seniors who want to do something special."