Junior Brock Benson of Willowbrook, Illinois (Hinsdale HS), matched his career-high with 26 points, but the Hope College men's basketball team lost at Alma 91-84 on Saturday.

The Flying Dutchmen (15-8 overall) fell back into a second-place tie with Trine in the MIAA standings. Both teams have 8-4 league records and trail first-place Calvin by two games with two remaining.

Hope can clinch a berth in the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday when the Flying Dutchmen host Kalamazoo for a 7:30 p.m. game at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Alma (9-14 overall, 7-5 MIAA) outscored Hope 52-43 during the second half. The Scots put six players in double figures as they shot 68.1 percent from the field.

Sophomore Harrison Blackledge of Canton, Ohio (Hoover HS), chipped in 17 points for the Flying Dutchmen.

Junior guard Ben Gardner of Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS), added 16 points, while junior guard Alex Eidson had 13 points.

The loss to Alma was Hope's first since a 66-65 defeat in 1998 — a span of 41 games.