ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Adrian College men's basketball team looks to move back into the winning column this week with tough matchups over Hope College and Albion College. The Bulldogs hold a 3-12 record on the year and are 2-2 in MIAA play with wins over Kalamazoo on the road and Alma at home. Hope sits at 10-5 in conference play with a 3-1 record and sit tied for first in the MIAA standings. Albion comes into the week with a 7-8 record and is also tied for first in the conference at 3-1.

Over the past two weeks, the Bulldogs' scoring margin to its opponents has improved to -6 as they average 77.9 points per game while allowing 83.9. Adrian as a team is shooting 46.4% from the floor, but only 29% from three-point land, and 59.2% from the free throw line. Connor Pelham leads the team with 16.2 ppg to go with 7.8 rebounds per game. He is also shooting 50.9% over all and has recorded 22 steals to lead the team and 15 blocks. De'Ovion Price is also averaging 16.0 ppg for Adrian while shooting 48.8% from the field. Andrew Larson leads the team in blocks at 21 while also averaging 9.4 ppg to go with 6.6 rpg.

Hope comes in averaging 73.7 ppg as a team and is shooting 40.3% from the field. The Hope defense allows 69.7 ppg to its opponents while they shoot 43.7% overall. The Flying Dutchmen have four guys in the lineup averaging double digits in points while starting in every game they have appeared in. The key player to watch for Hope is Evan Thomas who leads the team in scoring with 16.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg.

Albion on the season averages 73 ppg as a team while allowing 71.8 ppg to its opponents. The Britons score all around the floor with only two players averaging more than ten points a game, but have seven players averaging more than six. The key player to watch for the Britons in Cortez Garland who can control both sides of the floor with 16.7 ppg and a team-high 21 steals.

In the all-time series against Hope, the Bulldogs are on a two-game losing streak with their last win coming in 2020 in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. Against Albion, the Bulldogs are on a three-game winning streak with the last win coming at home in a 79-78 battle where Adrian hit the winning shot with two second left in February of 2020.

The week will begin at home on Wednesday, January 19 against Hope College at 7:30 PM. The Bulldogs will hit the road on Saturday as they travel to Albion for a 3:00 PM tip-off.