ALBION, MI – Last week, the Cougars won on a last second buzzer beater against the University of St. Francis (IL), and tonight, the Albion College Britons turned the tables on the Cougars hitting a 3-pointer as time ran out topping Spring Arbor 51-50.
The Cougars enjoyed a 27-22 half-time lead as both team struggled offensively hitting just 33% percent from the field for Spring Arbor and 31% from the field for Albion.
Spring Arbor increased the lead to seven (31-24) on a Greg Hamilton bucket with18:17 on the clock to start the second half but Albion cut the lead to one on a 6-0 run of their own.
Rob Hogans and Tyler Hughes brought the Cougars back to a five point lead, 37-32, before the Britons took their turn for a small run to tie the game at 37 points each with7:44 left in the game.
The final three minutes were tense as Greg Hamilton would score to put the Cougars up by one (46-45) and Xavier Prather took advantage of a Thomas Starks steal and score to put Spring Arbor up by three points, but three Albion free throws later the game was tied at 48-48 with 0:44 on the clock.
Spring Arbor kept the turnovers low for the game, but a costly turnover late gave the ball to Albion Lawrence Ridgell who in turn hot a long range 3-pointer with .8 seconds on the clock and Albion’s team stormed the floor which elicited a team technical foul on Albion.
Down by three with .8 seconds left Greg Hamilton made both technical foul free throws to cut the lead to one 50-51 and possession. Unfortunately, the Cougars couldn’t connect as the buzzer sounded and the Cougars fall to 3-4 on the season. Albion stays unbeaten at 3-0.
For the first time this season, Rob Hogans was held under 20 points, but he still scored a game high 17 and Greg Hamilton added 13 for the Cougars as well as leading the team in rebounds with seven.
The Cougars return home tomorrow night to host Great Lakes Christian College in the second game of a Cougar Double-Header as the Lady Cougars host Rochester College at 5:30 and the men will follow that game at approximately 7:30.
Courtesy Dave Mayotte, Spring Arbor University
