A focused Hope College men's basketball team followed through on its gameplan at Alma College.

Playing for the second time in three days, the Flying Dutchmen played collectively, relentlessly and efficiently on both ends of the court to earn a 79-63 victory on Saturday.

Hope moved to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play with a fourth consecutive victory. The Flying Dutchmen are tied for first place in the league standings with Calvin University and Trine University.

Alma fell to 7-6 overall and 1-11 in MIAA play.

"It was a tremendously locked-in and engaged group defensively," head coach Greg Mitchell said. "I also thought we dominated the glass in the first half and took care of the ball. There was a commitment to playing hard for 40 minutes, where it needs to be on the road."

Center Gabe Quillan led the change by totaling a pair of game-highs with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

The junior from Ada, Michigan (Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) shot 69.2% from the field while sinking a season-best nine field-goal attempts.

Quillan followed up his 16-point, 16-rebound performance at The University of Olivet on Thursday.

Two teammates joined Quillan in double figures against the Scots: sophomore guard Marcus Wourman (East Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing) with 14 points and senior forward Tanner Weigerink (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) with 11.

Hope built a 42-24 halftime lead. 

The Flying Dutchmen used a 13-0 run to break open the game. A 3 from junior forward Ben Wagar (Harbor Springs, Michigan / Petoskey) capped the decisive surge and provided a 31-17 lead with six minutes left in the first half.

Hope outscored Alma by a 44-16 margin in the paint and outrebounded the Scots by a 42-20 margin.

The Flying Dutchmen committed a season-low seven turnovers. 

Alma shot just 35.1% from the field. Connor Riley's 17 points topped the Scots.

"Both Gabe and Marcus deserve attention. Our players were aware of this, moving the ball and trusting each other," Mitchell said. "Marcus Wourman really controlled the pace of the game. Justice Mims got some good minutes after a tough start. It was the team effort we needed."

The game was Hope's sixth in a row away from DeVos Fieldhouse.

Hope returns home on Wednesday, Jan. 10, for a 7:30 p.m. game against Kalamazoo College.

The game will be part of a special Purple Community doubleheader with women's basketball. It will follow the 6 p.m. women's game between Hope and Kalamazoo. Proceeds will help underwrite an internship for a Hope student at Van Andel Institute.