Fighting Comet basketball team defeats Grace, 89-83

The Olivet College men's basketball team won its fifth consecutive game tonight with an 89-83 victory at home against the Grace (Ind.) College Lancers.

The Fighting Comets (5-4) used a balanced scoring attack in the victory tonight as six different players reached double figures. Junior guard Thad Mitchner (Flint Central High School) led the way with 15 points on six-of-eight shooting from the floor. Sophomore Derek Cox (Niles High School) scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Junior Richard Britton (Olivet High School) and senior point guard Travis Schellhammer (Grand Ledge High School) each contributed 13 points. Senior guard Matt Brawley (Niles High School) and sophomore forward De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge High School) had 10 points apiece. Freshman Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School) was credited with three blocks.

After a 10-10 tie, Olivet went on a 27-13 run over the next eight minutes to take its biggest lead of the first half at the 5:03 mark. The Lancers (6-7) cut the deficit to just four points twice in the last five minutes. The Fighting Comets held a 41-35 halftime.

In the first 10 minutes of the second half, both teams battled back and forth with five occasions the game being deadlocked. The Lancers led by three points at 60-57 with 9:17 left in the contest. The Comets responded by scoring the next four points of the game to take a 61-60 on a layup by Pruitt. From that point, Olivet did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.

Olivet is next in action on Saturday, Dec. 20, when it travels to North Manchester, Ind. to play Manchester College at 3 p.m.