Coupled with Calvin College's 97-83 victory over Kalamazoo College, the Britons (18-2 overall, 8-2 MIAA) fell back into a tie with the Knights for first place with four regular season games remaining. Albion ends the regular season with midweek road trips to Tri-State University and Alma College and Saturday home games against Adrian College and Kalamazoo.
Albion held brief leads on three occasions during the first half. The Britons' largest lead was an 11-8 margin when junior center Brandon Crawford scored a layup 6-1/2 minutes into the game. The Britons' last lead was a 13-12 score when sophomore guard Lonny Fulse laid in a shot with 8:31 left in the first half.
From there, Hope went on a 9-0 spurt as Kyle Kleersnyder knocked down a jumper, Daane Griffeth scored back-to-back "threes", and Andy Phillips made the second of two shots at the line. Hope held a 21-13 lead with five minutes left in the first half.
Powered by a layup by junior guard Mike Bailey and a three-point goal by senior guard Mike Thomas, Albion cut its deficit to 29-25 at halftime. Albion trailed by just a pair when Fulse laid in a Crawford miss on the first possession of the second half.
Hope, determined to reverse a 68-44 loss to Albion on its home floor in January, scored the next 10 points to swing momentum on its side. By the time Andy Phillips completed an old-fashioned three-point play with 16 minutes left in regulation, the Flying Dutchmen held a 39-27 lead. Hope's biggest lead of the second half was 13 points at 41-28 and 43-30.
"We need to have a sense of urgency and come out with more intensity," Albion senior forward Travis DePree. "We didn't have our 'A' game today and really didn't play well. Hope played well and won."
Albion tried to climb back into the game, holding Hope without a field goal for nearly seven minutes. A Thomas "three" from the top of the key brought the Britons within three, 45-42, with seven minutes left.
Hope slammed the door on the Briton rally when Eric Voisin and Jake Hogeboom scored layups to end the Flying Dutchmen's drought from the field.
Albion was unable to close the margin under five the rest of the way.
Crawford posted his 10th double-double of the season, 18 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the Britons. Thomas added 15 points to pass John Porter (1949-53) for sixth place on Albion's all-time scoring list. DePree and Bailey added eight points apiece.
Hope, which shot 53 percent from the field in the game, had four players score in double figures. Griffeth scored 17 points, making 6 of 7 shots from the field and both of his attempts from the free throw line. Kleersnyder contributed 13, and Voisin and Hogeboom finished with 10 points apiece.
HOPE COLLEGE (11-10; 7-3 MIAA) Daane Griffeth 6-7 2-2 17; Kyle Kleersnyder 6-9 1-2 13; Jake Hogeboom 3-5 2-2 10; Eric Voisin 2-7 6-6 10; Travis Spaman 3-5 2-5 8; Andy Phillips 2-7 2-4 6; Jeff Carlson 1-1 0-0 2; Stephen Cramer 1-4 0-0 2; Scott Richardson 0-0 0-0 0; Jack Klunder 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-45 15-21 68. ALBION COLLEGE (18-2; 8-2 MIAA) Brandon Crawford 8-15 2-5 18; Mike Thomas 4-15 5-6 15; Mike Bailey 3-6 0-0 8; Travis DePree 4-8 0-0 8; Lonny Fulse 3-5 0-0 6; Rick Palmer 1-2 0-0 2; Evan Way 1-2 0-0 2; Zak Silas 0-2 0-0 0; Garrett Gibbons 0-3 0-0 0; Brian Champine 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 24-59 7-13 59. Hope College.................. 29 39 - 68 Albion College................ 25 34 - 59 3-point goals-Hope College 5-7 (Daane Griffeth 3-3; Jake Hogeboom 2-3; Eric Voisin 0-1), Albion College 4-18 (Mike Thomas 2-8; Mike Bailey 2-4; Lonny Fulse 0-1; Zak Silas 0-1; Garrett Gibbons 0-2; Travis DePree 0-2). Fouled out--Hope College-None, Albion College-None. Rebounds-Hope College 35 (Kyle Kleersnyder 7; Eric Voisin 7), Albion College 33 (Brandon Crawford 10). Assists-Hope College 16 (Daane Griffeth 5; Jake Hogeboom 5), Albion College 13 (Travis DePree 6). Total fouls-Hope College 15, Albion College 17. A-1351