The win snapped Albion’s first two-game losing streak since January of 2004 as the Britons improved to 17-4 and 8-3 in the MIAA. Alma fell to 8-14 and 1-10.
Three Britons scored in double figures, led by senior center Brandon Crawford who scored 22 points and grabbed 11 boards to record his 15th double-double of the year. Junior guard Zak Silas added 16 points on 8-for-15 shooting.
Junior center Evan Way had a huge night, scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 boards. It was his highest point output since he scored 19 against DePauw in November and his fourth double-double of the season, but his first since Jan. 4.
Alma started the second half strong, scoring eight straight points to trim Albion’s 12-point halftime deficit to 39-35. Corey Massey hit two 3-pointers in a row to bring the Scots back. Massey finished with 28 points, hitting five triples and shooting 10-for-16 from the floor.
Albion’s lead was still four (41-37) when Crawford picked up his third foul with 17:02 to play. But Albion’s subs responded in a big way, as the Britons went on a 12-3 run with Crawford on the bench to take a 53-40 advantage with 12:58 left.
Way scored four points during the spurt, Silas hit a layup, and senior forward Garrett Gibbons and sophomore forward Jim Cash each knocked down 3-pointers.
Albion shot 5-for-11 from behind the arc compared to just 7-for-27 for Alma.
Alma didn’t get closer than 12 points the rest of the way. Albion shut the door for good with a 14-2 run spanning 5 minutes that gave it a commanding 73-49 lead, its biggest of the game, with just over 3 minutes to play.
Nine Britons scored. Gibbons and Cash each scored eight, and senior guard Mike Bailey and senior forward Rick Palmer added four apiece. Palmer also dished out a game-high nine assists.
Albion grabbed the lead for good at 8-6 early in the first half on a layup by Bailey. The Britons used a 10-0 run to grab their first double-digit lead (20-8) with 11:39 left in the half.
Crawford scored six points during the spurt.
Alma cut its deficit to 33-27 with 55 seconds left in the half on a triple by Massey, but a 3-pointer by Cash and a 3-point play by Way gave Albion a 39-27 lead and the momentum heading into the locker room.
Albion used its size and strength to outscored Alma 50-28 in points in the paint. The Britons shot 35-for-57 (61.4 percent) from the field, including 17-for-23 (73.9 percent in the second half.
Alma took eight more shot attempts (23-for-65) but shot just 35.4 percent from the field.
Albion will continue MIAA play Saturday, Feb. 11, when it travels to face Kalamazoo College. Tip time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
ALMA COLLEGE (8-14; 1-10 MIAA) Cory Massey 10-16 3-3 28; Mike Murphy 4-11 0-0 8; Fred Anthony 2-6 0-0 5; Drew Barnhart 2-4 1-1 5; Isaac Smith 2-7 0-0 4; Carl Hill 2-8 0-0 4; Greg Nelson 1-3 0-0 3; David McNally 0-3 0-0 0; Nate Jervey 0-2 0-0 0; Bener Sen 0-1 0-0 0; Rod McGhee 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 23-65 4-4 57. ALBION COLLEGE (17-4; 8-3 MIAA) Brandon Crawford 9-14 4-5 22; Zak Silas 8-15 0-0 16; Evan Way 6-7 3-3 15; Garrett Gibbons 3-5 0-0 8; Jim Cash 3-5 0-0 8; Mike Bailey 2-5 0-0 4; Rick Palmer 2-4 0-1 4; Drew Hilton 1-1 0-0 3; Dean Raven 1-1 0-0 2; Drew Yancey 0-0 0-0 0; Andrew Ruddick 0-0 0-0 0; D.J. Mocini 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-57 7-9 82. Alma College.................. 27 30 - 57 Albion College................ 39 43 - 82 3-point goals-Alma College 7-27 (Cory Massey 5-9; Greg Nelson 1-3; Fred Anthony 1-2; Isaac Smith 0-2; Carl Hill 0-2; David McNally 0-1; Nate Jervey 0-1; Rod McGhee 0-2; Drew Barnhart 0-1; Mike Murphy 0-4), Albion College 5-11 (Jim Cash 2-2; Garrett Gibbons 2-4; Drew Hilton 1-1; Mike Bailey 0-2; Zak Silas 0-2). Fouled out--Alma College-None, Albion College-None. Rebounds-Alma College 23 (Mike Murphy 5), Albion College 43 (Evan Way 13). Assists-Alma College 9 (Cory Massey 3; David McNally 3), Albion College 28 (Rick Palmer 9). Total fouls-Alma College 14, Albion College 12. A-715