Men's basketball team beats Concordia, 75-58

The Olivet College men's basketball team defeated non-league foe Concordia University, 75-58, today at the Upton Center. After starting the year 0-4, the Fighting Comets have won four consecutive games.

Olivet used a balanced scoring attack to defeat the Cardinals as five players reached double figures. Sophomore forward De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge High School) led the way with 14 points. He also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Junior forward Ronnie Pearson (Holly High School) and sophomore forward Steve Johnson (Detroit/Murray Wright High School) contributed 12 points apiece. Johnson also pulled down five rebounds.

Senior point guard Travis Schellhammer (Grand Ledge High School) and junior guard Thad Mitchner (Flint Central High School) each chipped in with 10 points. Schellhammer had a team-best eight assists. Freshman Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School) had four rebounds and two blocks.

Following an 8-8 tie, Pruitt nailed a three-pointer for an 11-8 Olivet lead with 13:27 remaining in the first half. Following that basket, the Comets never relinquished the lead for the rest of the game.

Olivet built its first-half lead to as many as 14 points twice with the last time being at the 3:25 mark when Schellhammer made two free throws. The Comets extended their lead to 18 points on three occasions in the second half, including with 30 seconds left on a slam dunk by Johnson.

Olivet will next be in action on Tuesday, Dec. 16, when it hosts Grace (Ind.) College at approximately 8 p.m. The game is part of a men's/women's basketball doubleheader. At 6 p.m., the Olivet women's basketball team is playing Rochester College.

NOTE: With four steals in today's game, Travis Schellhammer now has 154 in his career, which ranks first all-time at Olivet.