HOLLAND, Mich. – Playing on the road against Division III's 11th-ranked team, Albion College could ill afford to fall behind. Albion held a one-point lead with 7 ½ minutes left in the first half, but it managed eight points the remainder of the period and it went on to slide to a 78-61 loss to Hope College.

Albion erased a 19-13 deficit as Carter Elliott (Franklin/Detroit Country Day) scored a pair of baskets and Luke Walker (Cedar Springs) connected from long distance.

Colton Overway tacked on a pair of fast break layups and Peter Bunn sank two free throws and a jumper, however, and the Flying Dutchmen were on their way to their 13th win of the season. Albion was unable to whittle the deficit to single digits in the second half.

Kolin Kazen (Holland/Saugatuck) led Albion with 15 points and six rebounds. Alex Harville (Clinton Township/De La Salle) knocked down three shots from behind the arc and finished with 11.

Albion (6-8 overall, 2-1 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) is locked in a three-way tie for second place in the league standings. One of the other 2-1 teams in the league, Trine University, will challenge Albion at 3 p.m. Saturday inside Kresge Gymnasium.