Alma, Mich. - The wins keep coming. Behind blistering second-half shooting, the Alma College men's basketball team, ranked 21st in the country, extended its winning streak to eight games with a 75-64 win over visiting Albion College in front of a raucous crowd at Art Smith Arena.
The Scots shot 16-for-21 in the second half and junior Trevor Gernaat (McBain, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian) scored 11 of his team-high 13 points to erase a four-point halftime deficit and win at Art Smith Arena for the 12th straight game.
Five Scots scored in double figures as Alma remained perfect in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, improving their record to 6-0. Senior DJ Beckman (Shelby, Mich./Shelby) scored 12 points, including eight in the final 20 minutes, and shot 5-for-5 for the game while sophomore Jason Beckman (Shelby, Mich./Shelby) added 12 points, hitting four of his five shots from the floor.
Senior Scott Nikodemski (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) and sophomore Doug Bradfield (Mason, Mich./Mason) each added 10 points to help the Scots improve to 13-4 overall.
The Britons (8-9, 3-3 MIAA) led the the majority of the first half and out rebounded Alma, 18-10, including seven offensive boards. Travell Oakes and Corey Wheeler each had 13 points in the opening frame to give the Scots their first halftime deficit in 11 games. Wheeler finished the game with a team-high 18 points as Albion dropped its second straight game.
Alma came out firing in the second half, going on a 9-0 run to take a five point lead and never looked back from there, leading the rest of the way.
The Scots, winners in 12 of their last 13 games, will host a pair of contests at Art Smith Arena next week. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Alma will complete the first half of MIAA play with an 8:00 p.m. contest against Olivet College. Next Saturday, Jan. 30, the Scots will take on the Kalamazoo College Hornets in a 3:00 p.m. contest.
NOTES
• The game was designated as the Scots' annual Pink Game to raise awareness for cancer and benefit the Angel Wings Foundation.
• Alma remained atop the MIAA with a perfect 6-0 record.
• Alma's 13 wins are the most since recording 14 during the 1996-97 season.
• The Scots extended their home winning streak at Art Smith Arena to 12 games.
• Alma has won its last 11 MIAA regular-season contests.
• Alma shot 63.3 percent from the field. The Scots are the top shooting team in NCAA Division III.
• Trevor Gernaat has scored in double figures in his last six games.
QUOTES
Head Coach Sam Hargraves
"It was a victory, and at this point we'll take it. They (Albion) guarded us smarter than anybody. They are just a nightmare matchup for us and they are so well coached, so disciplined and so physical. We keep finding a way to get it done, so I'm proud of that."