DALLAS, Tex. – Despite a monster performance from Devin Holmes, the Albion College men's basketball team came up short in a 97-93 loss to North American University. The senior scored 17 points while grabbing 18 rebounds – seven on the offensive end. Both are career-highs for Holmes.

Senior MJ Barnes led Albion with 23 points, highlighted by a 7 of 13 performance from beyond the arc. Cortez Garland and Justin McAbee each scored 20 for the Britons in the loss. Garland was a perfect 10 for 10 from the foul line. 

NAU broke out to an early lead, boosted by the hot shooting from deep. Albion struggled to find momentum until late in the half when the Brits got and-ones on consecutive possessions from Holmes and McAbee.

Albion trailed by 16 headed into the half before they would slowly chip away in the second half.

As NAU kept their distance for most of the contest, the Brits worked for a comeback in the final two minutes of the game. 

Down 13 with two minutes to play, Garland knocked down a jumper to ignite the run. After forcing NAU to commit an offensive foul, McAbee scored to cut the deficit to single digits. On a second chance, Holmes's basket saw the Britons trailing 90-83 with 1:08 to play.

Garland buried a three with 44 seconds on the clock, but Albion could not come within one possession of NAU, coming up just short in their Texas finale.

The Britons will regroup before commencing conference play on Wednesday. Albion will play the second half of a double header against Calvin, with tentative tip time at 8 p.m.