Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ALBION, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College men's basketball team improved to 9-9 on the season escaping Kregse Gymnasium with a 60-58 victory over Albion College in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play Saturday, Feb. 1.
Junior forward Adam Peters led all scorers with 22 points. The Hickory Corners native also grabbed six rebounds, three steals, three blocks, and two assists. Senior guard Mark Ghafari added 21 points.
In the early stages of the first half, neither team led by more than a basket until Lawrence Ridgell hit a three-pointer with 11:39 to play in the first half.
With the Britons leading 15-10, Albion continued to add to its lead. Eric Evans, who finished with a team-high 16 points for Albion, connected on two three-pointers. A layup later and all of a sudden, the Albion lead was 11 points.
The Hornets trailed 23-12 with 7:37 to play, but began to chip away at the Briton lead. Ghafari converted the hoop and the harm followed by a jumper from Peters.
Evans answered with his third three-pointer of the half to make the score 26-17. Over the next 2:30, Kalamazoo would hit four straight baskets and force two Albion turnovers. With the game tied at 28, the Hornets would score three of the final five points and take a 31-30 lead into the second half.
Albion would score 13 seconds into the second half and regain the lead by the slimmest of margins. Minutes later with the game tied at 35, Kalamazoo would go on a 14-6 run capped off by a three-pointer from freshman guard Josh Whitney at the 10:13 mark in the second half. The Hornets led 49-41.
Albion would get within two points with 30 seconds to play. After a missed free throw from Kalamazoo, Ridgell's jumper as time expired was off the mark.
The box score proves how tight the game was. Both teams made 21 field goals and 10 free throws. The two-point difference came from the eight three-pointers made for K compared to six for Albion.
The win avenges an 87-81 loss to Albion Jan. 9, the MIAA opener for both teams. Kalamazoo improves to 4-3 in the conference and currently sits in fourth place. The Hornets will travel to Holland for their next contest Monday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m.