Albion led for most of the first half and took a 29-27 lead to the locker room at halftime. A 6-0 run, capped by two free throws from senior center Evan Way, gave the Britons a 43-42 lead with 10 minutes left in the game.
Tony Benford carried Tri-State on a 12-1 run that put Albion in a 10-point hole, 54-44, with 7:27 remaining. Benford scored 10 of his game-high 25 points in the run with two layups and a pair of baskets from behind the arc.
Albion pulled within five on two occasions down the stretch. A 3-point goal by Zak Silas made the score 56-51 with 5:24 remaining. Drew Yancey knocked down two free throws to bring the Britons within 58-53 with 4 ½ minutes on the clock. Unfortunately, the Britons could not make a stop on the defensive end to get any closer.
The Britons controlled the game early as they bolted out to a 15-6 lead five minutes into the contest. Yancey scored four of Albion’s first seven baskets.
Tri-State clamped down on defense – holding Yancey to only one more basket in the first half – as the Thunder claimed their first lead, 27-26, on a 3-point goal by Justin Guy.
Jim Cash scored a 3-point goal to give Albion the halftime lead.
Silas led Albion with 18 points. Cash scored on 4-of-7 shots from behind the arc, and matched his season-high with 16 points. Yancey finished with 14 points.
Albion will continue MIAA action on the road Wednesday, Jan. 10 when it travels to Hope College.
ALBION COLLEGE (2-10, 0-2) Zak Silas 6-15 2-2 18; Jim Cash 5-11 2-2 16; Drew Yancey 6-10 2-2 14; Bill Leising 2-3 2-2 6; Dean Raven 1-3 2-4 4; Andrew Holms 2-9 0-0 4; Isiah Thomas 1-4 0-0 2; Evan Way 0-2 2-2 2; D.J. Mocini 0-0 0-0 0; Tom Jurasek 0-1 0-0 0; Robbie Clark 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-58 12-14 66. TRI-STATE UNIVERSITY (7-5, 1-1) Tony Benford 9-17 4-7 25; Maurice Brookins 5-9 2-2 15; Justin Guy 3-7 4-4 11; Donnie Pruitt 2-4 1-2 6; Ryan Kinzie 2-2 2-2 6; Matt Scudder 1-2 3-4 5; John Moore 2-5 0-0 4; Wes Weir 1-3 0-0 2; Eric Everett 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 25-49 16-23 74. Albion College................ 29 37 - 66 Tri-State University.......... 27 47 - 74 3-point goals-Albion College 8-24 (Zak Silas 4-10; Jim Cash 4-7; Dean Raven 0-2; Andrew Holms 0-2; Isiah Thomas 0-2; Tom Jurasek 0-1), Tri-State University 8-23 (Maurice Brookins 3-7; Tony Benford 3-8; Donnie Pruitt 1-3; Justin Guy 1-3; Wes Weir 0-2). Fouled out--Albion College-None, Tri-State University-None. Rebounds-Albion College 31 (Andrew Holms 5; Zak Silas 5), Tri-State University 34 (Justin Guy 8; Tony Benford 8). Assists-Albion College 8 (Dean Raven 2), Tri-State University 12 (Justin Guy 4). Total fouls-Albion College 20, Tri-State University 16. A-468