After recovering from an early Briton charge, the Hope College men's basketball team rallied within striking distance on an Evan Thomas fast-break layup six minutes into the second half against Albion College.

Jaylen Ross quickly responded with 3 to start a decisive 8-0 run that led to an 81-63 loss for the Flying Dutchmen on Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Hope fell to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play. Albion improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA after avenging an 84-79 loss at home to the Flying Dutchmen on February 1.

Senior forward Preston Granger (Lansing, Michigan/Lansing Christian HS) led Hope with 18 points.

Thomas (Okemos, Michigan/Okemos) also finished in double figures with 17 points.

In a reversal of the game at Albion, the Britons scored the first six points of the game and never trailed.

Guard Cortez Garland led three Albion players in double figures with 23 points. The Britons shot 47.0 percent from the field (31-66) and 80 percent from the foul line (12-15).

Hope struggled with its shot, finishing 39.6 percent from the field (21-53) and 55.6 percent at the free-throw line (15-27).

The Flying Dutchmen also committed 18 turnovers to Albion's 12.

"We executed well offensively early, but we just weren't making shots, and that bled into us not being as energetic," head coach Greg Mitchell said. "To start the second half, we played hard and cut it to seven. We just couldn't get over that hump."

Hope looks to rebound on Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Alma College,