Men's basketball team beats Adrian, 64-62

The Olivet College men's basketball team beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Adrian College, 64-62, tonight in a nail-biter at the Upton Center in Olivet. The Fighting Comets (11-14, 5-7 MIAA) will be the #5 seed in next week's MIAA Tournament. Olivet will play at Adrian (14-11, 7-5 MIAA) in a first round game on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The Comets led by as many as nine points, 12-3, at the 13:49 mark of the first half. The Bulldogs fought back and tied the game, 14-14. After a 25-25 tie, sophomore forward De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge High School) nailed back-to-back three-pointers and the Comets outscored the Bulldogs, 11-4, in the final 5:38 of the first stanza.

Olivet extended their lead to 15 points with 12:38 left in regulation. Adrian fought back and cut its deficit to two points three times. With 43 seconds left in the game, junior forward Ronnie Pearson (Holly High School) nailed two free throws for a 64-60 Comet lead. Following three missed Adrian shots, Adam Novak grabbed an offensive rebound, was fouled and made both free throws. After that point, both teams combined to miss six free throws.

Pruitt led three Comets in double figures with 19 points, followed by Pearson with 16 points and freshman center Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School) with 10 markers. Pearson had a team-best nine rebounds. Senior point guard Travis Schellhammer (Grand Ledge High School) topped the team with six assists.

Billy Collins paced the Bulldogs with a game-high 21 points. Novak added 15 points and nine rebounds.