SCOTS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM DEFEATS ADRIAN 64-62 ON SATURDAY
So., G Jordan Redditt (Detroit, MI/Jesuit) hit an eight-foot jumper at the buzzer on Saturday afternoon, as the Alma Men’s Basketball team came away with a thrilling 64-62 league victory over Adrian, at Cappaert Gymnasium. The Scots improved to 2-2 in the MIAA and 4-10 overall, while the Bulldogs fell to 2-2 in the league and 5-9 on the 2008-09 season.
Alma shot 51% from the field in the game and used a 20-3 bench scoring advantage to secure the victory over Adrian. In a game that the Scots never trailed, the home team held a 30-21 advantage on the boards and bested the Bulldogs in points in the paint by a margin of 28-18.
The Scots scored the first bucket of the game on a lay-up by Fr., F Tommy Erickson (Escanaba, MI/Escanaba) and after the Bulldogs tied it at 2-2, Alma took control of the game, leading by as many as 12 points, at 27-15, during the half. The first frame ended with the Scots leading 36-32 as Adrian made it clear that they were not going down without a fight.
For the half, Adrian outshot the Scots by a close margin of 48% to 46%, with the Bulldogs going 3-10 from the past three-point line, while the home team was 4-11 from beyond the arc. Alma outrebounded the Bulldogs 17-9 during the first 20 minutes, including a 7-1 advantage on the offensive boards.
The Maroon and Crème came out with determination in the second half and after a 17-6 run, increased its lead to 53-38, when So., G Kevin Ginther (Harbor Beach, MI/Harbor Beach) hit a jumper with 12:59 left in the game. However, Adrian was not done and proceeded to go on its own 14-1 run to close the gap to 54-52 at the 5:44 mark of the half.
The game was a fight to the finish from there. The Scots could not get more than four points ahead and saw the score tied twice more, the last being at 62-62 with 12 seconds left in the contest, when the MIAA’s leading scorer Sr., G Desmond Young, hit the tying bucket.
With five seconds remaining, Alma called timeout and subsequently took possession at mid-court. After taking the inbounds pass, Redditt drove around two Bulldog defenders and drained the game-winning fade-away jumper for the Scots.
Sr., F Ryan DeHaan (Rockford, MI/Rockford) led Alma with 18 points and team-highs with seven rebounds and three assists, while Redditt finished with 11 points and a club-best four assists. Erickson contributed ten points, six rebounds and two blocked shots, while Jr., C Sam Machuta (Mt. Pleasant, MI/Mt. Pleasant) notched three assists on the day.
The Scots will now travel to Hope College on Wednesday evening, to take on the perennial contenders Dutchmen, and stay on the road for a Saturday contest at Olivet College. The next home game for Alma will be Wednesday, January 28, when the Scots host Albion College at Cappaert Gymnasium. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 tip-off.
Box Score
Posted: Sat, January 17th, 2009 at 2:54PM
