Alma, Mich. - The Alma College men's basketball team ended the first half of its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association schedule in dominating fashion, cruising to a 93-55 win over visiting Olivet College at Art Smith Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 27) night. The Scots, ranked 15th in NCAA Division III, improved to 14-4 overall and remain atop the MIAA with a perfect 7-0 mark.
The victory also marked the 13th straight win at Art Smith Arena for the Scots, which have not lost on their home floor since December 13, 2014. Alma has also won its last nine games, marking the longest winning streak since the 1941-42 campaign, a span of 74 years.
Five Scots scored in double figures, including sophomore Doug Bradfield (Mason, Mich./Mason) and senior Scott Nikodemski (Rockford, Mich./Rockford), who led the team with 14 points each. Junior Trevor Gernaat (McBain, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian/Mid-Michigan CC) and senior DJ Beckman (Shelby, Mich./Shelby) tallied 11 points each, while sophomore Jason Beckman(Shelby, Mich./Shelby) came off the bench to score 10.
Alma roared out of the gate in the first half behind 65.6 percent shooting and led wire to wire, taking an early double-digit lead and building a 29-point advantage by halftime. The Scots continued to pour it on in the second half, eventually leading by 40 points midway through the stanza. Alma was able to empty its bench with seven minutes left in the game.
The Scots finished the game shooting 51.6 percent (33-of-64) from the field and out-rebounding Olivet by a 44-31 margin. Olivet, which had won two of its last three games prior to the contest, shot 33.9 percent from the field while its leading scorer, Lee Gardner, scored only six points. Gardner entered the game averaging over 22 points an appearance and was one of the top scorers in Division III.
Alma remains home to wrap up a three-game homestead on Saturday, Jan. 30, hosting Kalamazoo College for a 3:00 p.m. contest at Art Smith Arena. In the first meeting between the two teams this season, the Scots posted an 86-85 win in overtime on the road.
NOTES
• The Scots are on a nine-game winning streak, their longest since 1941-42, when Alma won 12 straight.
• Alma finished the first half of the MIAA season with a perfect 7-0 record. That is the best start in league play since 1941-42, when Alma ran the table with a 10-0 mark in MIAA play.
• Since starting the season 1-3 in November, the Scots have won 13 of their last 14 games.
• The Scots have won their last 12 regular-season MIAA games, the longest stretch of league wins since a 23-game winning streak from 1940-43.
• Alma's 14 wins are the most in a season since the 1996-97 team posted a 14-12 record.
• Doug Bradfield tied his own school record with his 43rd block of the season. Bradfield tallied 43 rejections during all of the 2014-15 campaign.
• Scott Nikodemski moved into third place all-time on the career assists chart with six helpers. He now has 314 for his career, surpassing Andy Margin's (1987-91) 308 helpers.
• Jason Beckman has scored 10 or more points in four straight games.
• Scott Nikodemski has scored in double figures in all but two games this season.
• DJ Beckman has posted 10 or more points in all but three appearances this season.
• Trevor Gernaat has scored at least 11 points in every MIAA game this season.
• Gus Meriwether scored a season-high three points, hitting his first three-pointer of the season, while playing a season-best seven minutes.
• JR James played a season-high seven minutes.
• Rob Holmes collected a season-high five rebounds and tallied his first career block.
• Matt Launstein tied a season high with four points, hitting all four of his free throw attempts. He also set a season-high with three rebounds and seven minutes of playing time.
• Quinton Cook pulled down a season-high two rebounds.
QUOTES
Head Coach Sam Hargraves
"It's great to be undefeated (in MIAA play). I don't know if we would have thought that four months ago, but I am really happy to be where we are. I was really happy with our focus tonight. I thought we were tough and looked as good as we've looked in a while. Olivet comes in 2-4, right in the thick of the MIAA race, and we were worried sick about them. They are dangerous and can really score when they get going, and they've got some talented players. I thought we came out and set the tone right away and it took off from there, especially with our energy defensively."