Men's basketball team defeated by Hope, 83-70

The Olivet College men's basketball team was defeated by Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Hope College, 83-70, tonight before 2,560 fans at the Holland Civic Center.

In the first half, the Flying Dutchmen (7-9, 3-2 MIAA) led by nine points with 14:33 and 9:18 left. The Fighting Comets (6-10, 0-5 MIAA) cut the deficit down to five points, 28-23, at the 7:42 mark. Hope then went on to lead by 10 points on three occasions, including 41-31 at halftime.

The Dutch extended their lead to 22 points early in the second half. Olivet came back and trimmed the deficit down to 12 points when senior McKinsey Golfin (Flint/Central) made a free throw to complete a three-point play. Hope took its lead back out to 22 points, 79-57, in a span of just under four minutes. The Comets closed the game with a 13-4 run.

Sophomore Jerame File (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) scored a team-high 17 points on four-of-eight shooting from the floor and a perfect seven-of-seven from the free throw line. Senior Ronnie Pearson (Holly) was the only other Olivet player in double digits with 12. Senior Will Lee (Lansing Everett) and junior Greg Ravy (New Orleans, La./L.B. Landry) grabbed four rebounds apiece.

Hope placed four starters in double figures led by Daane Griffeth with a game-high 23 points. Andy Phillips added 16 and Travis Spaman and Eric Voison had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Phlilips had a game-high nine rebounds as the Dutch outrebounded Olivet, 43-27.

Olivet will travel to play Tri-State (Ind.) University Saturday, Jan. 22, with tip-off from Hershey Hall scheduled for 3 p.m.