ALBION, Mich. – Corey Wheeler may be the best known of the three seniors on the Albion College men's basketball team.
Someone needed to help up Wednesday night, however, with Wheeler sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Enter Robert Ryan.
The senior from Chicago scored in double figures for the second time this season – matching his season high with 10 points – and dished out six assists as the Britons edged Kalamazoo College, 70-67, to remain a game behind Trine University in the chase for the final berth in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Albion and Trine meet inside Kresge Gymnasium at 3 o'clock Saturday.
"Robert was an emotional leader today," Head Coach Jody May said. "The last 10 minutes stood out to me because he got the guys going on the defensive end."
Jaylin Fordham hit a long jumper late in the shot clock with eight seconds left to give Albion the three point lead. Fordham finished with 10 points.
"Kalamazoo took everything away – both of the options on the play – so Jaylin was left to make something out of nothing," May said.
Albion shot 50 percent from the field in the first half to lead 39-31.
The Britons pushed the lead to 10 on Caden Ebeling's basket on the first possession of the second half.
Ben Reiter tacked on two free throws and he hit 3-point shots on consecutive possessions to lead Kalamazoo on a 10-0 run. The Hornets led, 45-43, with less than 15 minutes left.
Fordham answered with a 3-point basket as the lead would change five times.
Albion took the lead for good on Juwan Perry's 3-point play with 7 ½ minutes left.
Reiter led all players with 23 points.
Follow the Britons on Twitter: @AlbionMBB
