ALMA, Mich. - For the second straight night, the Finlandia men's basketball team scored more than 90 points, but just like in Tuesday's 105-97 loss to Olivet College, the Lions surrendered triple digits, falling 103-94 to Alma College.
Alma shot 56 percent in the first half to take a 53-45 lead, and cooled off to just 50 percent in the second half. Finlandia (5-9) shot 41 percent overall, but hit just 14 of 27 free throws.
Anthony Grandberry, who was named Association of Division III Independents Men's Basketball Player of the Week Wednesday, scored five of the Lions' first nine points in jumping out to a 9-8 lead. But the Scots took the lead for good at 10-9 and upped the first-half lead to 26-15 en route to the nine-point victory over Finlandia, and head coach Terry Smith, who used to coach Alma.
Jonathon Moore opened the second half with a three-pointer to trim the lead to five, and the Lions whittled it to 74-71 midway through the second frame before the Scots went on a 17-2 run. The Lions cut the deficit to just six points with two minutes left but could come no closer.
Finlandia's Keith Arnold led all scorers with 21 points, while Moore and Chase Leskela each had 19. Grandberry finished with 14 points.