ANGOLA, Ind.  - After a shaky opening half, the Britons found a way to win another close game and take sole possession of 1st place in the MIAA after defeating Trine 88-82. Albion fell behind by as many as 10 points but came roaring back behind a career-high from Cortez Garland (27) and another exceptional performance from Jamezell Davis Jr. (32) to win 88-82. The victory moves Albion to 15-2 (6-0) on the season and stretched the current win streak to nine games. 

The Britons entered the second half down by seven 38-31, and the lead quickly went to 10 after Trine scored on their first two second-half possessions. Albion clawed back behind Garland and Davis to finally take the lead 57-56 with 10:45 to go on a Caden Ebeling (14) layup. 

The lead was short-lived as Trine took back control and led by five with only five minutes to play. Albion responded with their best stretch of basketball in the game and managed to hold on down the stretch to close the game out. 

Garland scored 12 points in the last 5:31 of the game, and Albion took an 80-79 lead with 2:40 left in the second half. Garland and Davis would combine for 21 free throw attempts in the game, converting 20 of them for a season-high 95.2% from the line. 

The final score, 88-82, is the Britons 8th game this season with at least 80 points after a total of nine games with 80+ points over the course of the entire 2018-19 season. 

The last time Albion traveled to Angola was for the 2019 MIAA Tournament, where they came out victorious after defeating Olivet in the semi-final and Trine in the championship, and they have now won 3 straight games at the MTI Center. 

The Britons head to the Upton Center on the campus of Olivet College for their final first-round MIAA matchup on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. The Britons and Comets last met in the MIAA semi-finals, and Albion won on a last-second half-court heave by Jamezell Davis Jr. 

Briton Notes

• Cortez Garland scored a career-high 27 points and was 13-13 from the FT line

• Jamezell Davis Jr. had another 30+ performance with 32 points.

• The Britons shot a season-high 20-21 from the FT line. 

• Caden Ebeling contributed 14 points and 6 rebounds. 

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlbionMBB on Twitter and Instagram. General athletics news can also be found @gobrits on Twitter, AlbionAthletics on Instagram and Albion College Athletics on Facebook.

Joe and Julie Serra have given a $5 million leadership gift to launch a fundraising initiative to make two dreams a reality at Albion College. The first is a newly expanded fitness and student activity facility at the site of the current Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. The second is a new or renovated competition facility for the volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball teams that currently call Kresge Gymnasium home.

The College is continuing to raise funds in support of both projects. To learn more, call 517/629-0446 or email advancement@albion.edu