Hornets Secure Overtime Win Against Albion College, 83-78

For the first time since 2013, Kalamazoo College men’s basketball earned a home victory over Albion College with an 83-78 overtime win.

Albion took control early, jumping to a quick lead, but Caleb Caul kept Kalamazoo in the fight by scoring the team’s first eight points. 

The Britons’ defensive switching presented both challenges and opportunities for the Hornets—while their aggressive approach made scoring near the rim difficult, it also created mismatches height wise under the rim allowing Kalamazoo to gain with rebounds. 

Despite Albion’s early momentum, the Hornets applied relentless full-court pressure and man-to-man defense throughout the game, forcing Albion into tough situations. A turning point came when Albion’s No. 32, AJ Barden, was assessed a technical foul, adding to the Hornets’ momentum. 

At the half, Kalamazoo faced struggles at the free throw line but were still capitalizing on offensive rebounds, getting fouled, and finding success from beyond the arc with Carter Bandemer’s shot from beyond half-court after the buzzer. 

The second half saw a defensive resurgence from Kalamazoo. The Hornets flipped the script on Albion, forcing tough shots and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. Still, the game remained tight, eventually heading to overtime.

In the extra period, Lucas Hanifan drained a clutch 3-pointer, and Kalamazoo’s dominance on the offensive glass continued to be a game-changer, leading to crucial trips to the free throw line. The Hornets finished with 17 second-chance points. 

For the Britons, Dwayne Ray led the charge with a career-high 18 points, followed by BJ Hunter with 10. Barden secured 13 rebounds. 

For the Hornets, DJ Ferguson finished with 17 points. Bandemer and Hanifan each followed with 14 points, and five Hornets finished in double figures offensively. Nelson Sompa delivered a standout defensive performance with nine rebounds.

Kalamazoo’s victory is marked not just a major win over Albion, but a statement of the team’s growth and determination as they look to secure a spot in the MIAA tournament