Alma, Mich. - The Alma College men's basketball team punched its ticket to the MIAA Tournament on Saturday (Feb. 18) night at Art Smith Arena, raining down threes on Olivet College in a 113-90 victory. The Scots (12-13 overall, 8-6 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) will be the fourth seed in the tournament and face host and top-seeded Hope College on Friday, Feb. 24, at DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland.

Alma hit a record 25 three-point shots and hit 50 percent of its long-range attempts en route to a season-high for points. The Scots topped the 100-point mark for the second time this season at home and shot 50 percent from the floor for the game.

Freshman Preston Laketa (Concord, Mich./Hanover-Horton) came off the bench to score a season-high 26 points, hitting eight of his 10 shots, including six of his eight three-point attempts. Freshman Steven Harvey (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ada) also posted a season-high, netting 24 points on 8-for-14 shooting, with every shot coming from behind the arc.

Senior Trevor Gernaat (McBain, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian/Mid-Michigan CC) added 18 points, including five threes, and collected a career-high 17 rebounds for the double-double, while senior Tyler Edwards (Flint, Mich./Swartz Creek) scored 12 points in his final game at Art Smith Arena.

Olivet (9-16, 5-9 MIAA) was led by Eric Ewing's 20 points.

The Scots entered the game knowing they needed a win to advance to the MIAA Tournament and got up by 10 points five minutes into the game, only to see the Comets crawl back and regain the lead halfway through the opening frame. A 17-4 run by the Scots ensued, putting Alma up by 15 points at 49-34 with less than six minutes until the half. From there, the Scots never looked back and at one point led by 38 points.

Halftime featured a special presentation to honor former Alma College football head coach Jim Cole, who had the new football office suite named after him. In addition, prior to the game, Alma honored its five seniors - student assistant coach Jason Malling, Edwards, Gernaat, Bryan Hines (Menominee, Mich./Menominee) and senior Chase Fairchild (Rockford, MIch./Rockford).

The Scots will now enter the MIAA Tournament for the third straight season, but for the first time as the defending champion. Alma will face Hope, which defeated the Scots twice during the regular-season. Ticket information and game times will be announced by the MIAA.