OLIVET, Mich. - Albion College scrapped for 19 offensive rebounds Wednesday night, but its 21 second chance points were not enough to carry the Britons past Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Olivet College.
Lee Gardner scored eight of his 18 points over the final eight minutes as Olivet erased a five-point deficit and scored a 67-62 victory.
Albion seized an early 12-2 lead as Jaylen Fordham and Dakota Kazen produced five points apiece.
Scoring became difficult for Albion from that point as Olivet challenged the Britons with a 2-3 zone.
The Britons led 30-26 at halftime and by as many as six in the second half.
Albion missed five shots from the field and two from the line as Olivet ripped off a 9-0 run in taking a 53-49 lead with 3 ½ minutes to play. Kazen's three-point shot cut the margin to one with 3:16 to play but that was as close as the Britons would get.
Fordam finished with 21 points for his second 20-point game of the season and three shy of matching his season-high. Kazen produced 17 points and seven rebounds and Travell Oakes came up with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Olivet's Eric Ewing finished with 19 points, while Gardner completed his double-double with 11 rebounds. Quintin Way also scored in double figures with 12.
Albion, 8-8 overall and 3-2 against MIAA rivals, will challenge 21st-ranked Alma College on the road Saturday night.