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Game story

Schedule and Results

ALBION, Mich. — Albion extended its stay among the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association leaders after posting a 72-64 victory over Kalamazoo at Kresge Gymnasium Feb. 19.

To gain the victory, Albion had to shrug off a slow start. The Britons trailed by six, 27-21, when Kevin Baird sank a pair of free throws with seven minutes remaining in the first half.

Albion closed the first half on a 16-5 run to take a 37-32 lead and momentum to the locker room at halftime.

"The key to the game was the end of the first half and the opening minutes of the second half," Albion head coach Mike Turner said. "We spread it out and got some easy shots. That was a big three by (senior guard) Brett Quayle at the end of the first half."

Senior guard Chris Hawkins started the Britons' late first half rally with two free throws and a three-point field goal. Back-to-back three-point field goals by junior guard Marcus Gill and Quayle put Albion in the lead, 32-29, with 2:47 on the clock.

Sophomore forward Travis DePree sank a pair of free throws at the 1:01 mark, and Quayle knocked down a three-point field goal with two seconds left to finish the first half scoring.

Albion scored the first four points of the second half to extend its lead to nine, 41-32, with 18-1/2 minutes remaining in regulation. The lead jumped to double-digits when junior forward Joe Finland scored a basket with 14:34 on the clock.

The Britons held off Kalamazoo by making 13 of 19 shots from the field (68.4%) in the second half.

Quayle led all players with 20 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field. DePree added 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while sophomore guard Michael Thomas chipped in with 12 points and four assists. Hawkins and senior center Pat Moultrie contributed seven and six points, respectively.

Off the bench, Gill scored eight points on 3 of 4 shooting from the field and Finland made all three of his shots for six points.

Kalamazoo (18-5 overall, 7-4 MIAA) shot 36% from the field (19 of 53) and 87% from the free throw line (20 of 23) in the game. Dirk Rhinehart and Baird were the Hornets' double-figure scorers with 18 and 10 points, respectively.