Men’s Basketball Team Falls to Mount Union (Ohio), 78-61, in the First Round of Allegheny (Pa.) College Dad’s Classic

MEADVILLE, PA. – The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to Mount Union (Ohio) College tonight in the first round of the Allegheny (Pa.) College Dad's Classic.  With the loss, the Fighting Comets' record is 2-2 overall while the Purple Raiders improve their record to 2-0 overall. Olivet will next play the loser of the Juniata (Pa.)-Allegheny (Pa.) game in the consolation game of the tournament tomorrow at 6 p.m.

In the first half, Olivet had a 6-5 lead at the 16:38 mark.  Mount Union scored the next two points and then never relinquished its lead in the half.  After the Comets cut the Raider lead to two points, Mount Union scored the last six points of the half to take a 31-23 at the break.

In the second half, Olivet trailed by only three points with 13:41 left.  However, Mount Union turned up the defensive pressure and forced the Comets to shoot 34.4% from the floor.

Senior forward Michael Dyson (Kalamazoo/ Loy Norrix High School) and sophomore guard Will Lee (Lansing Everett High School) led Olivet with 16 points apiece.  Freshman forward Steve Johnson (Detroit Murray Wright High School) chipped in with 13 points.  Sophomore forward Ronnie Pearson (Holly High School) grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and Dyson had seven rebounds.  Junior guard Travis Schellhammer (Grand Ledge High School) dished out a team-best four assists.

Brad Gerard and Rob Paulauskas each paced Mount Union with 15 points.

Following its game tomorrow, Olivet will return home to face Marygrove College on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the Upton Center at 7:30 p.m.