The Beloit College men's basketball team fell to Alma College 82-72 in the squad's final game of 2019 Friday evening. 

Michael Polakoski went off in the first half providing the majority of the offense for the Buccaneers. The freshman guard hit 6-7 from three-point range and scored 20 of the Bucs' 37 first half points. Beloit trailed 42-37 at the half. 

Tristan Shoup tallied the first points after the intermission to cut the deficit to three but Alma answered with eight of the next nine points to take a double digit lead, 50-40 with 17:36 on the clock. 

The Scots led by as much as 14 in the game, 58-44 with just under 14 minutes to play but Beloit didn't fold and started to chip away. The Bucs went on a 14-2 run to pull to within two as Shoup capped the run with an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 60-58 with 11:12 remaining. 

Alma responded once again and quickly pushed their advantage back into double figures. The Scots held the lead the rest of the way for the win.

Alma won the turnover battle committing eight fewer turnovers and outscoring the Bucs 21-11 on points off miscues.  

The Scots shaded Polakoski in the second half giving him little room to get off a shot but his six three's in the game ties the fourth-most made in a game in program history. He led the Bucs with 25 points in the game on 8-12 from the field, 6-8 from beyond the arc and 3-4 from the free throw line. Shoup added 23 points on 10-17 from the floor tallying three assists and a steal in the contest. Mylan Walters joined his teammates in double figures with 10 points. 

Andrew Walters led all players with 17 rebounds adding a team-high four assists. 

The Bucs return to the hardwood in the new year heading to Mount Vernon, Iowa as Midwest Conference play resumes against Cornell College January 3. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.