Men's basketball team upsets Adrian, 77-71

Junior guard Derek Kurtz (Jonesville/Hillsdale) scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Olivet College men's basketball team to a 77-71 upset victory over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Adrian College this evening at the Upton Center in Olivet. The win snaps Olivet's six-game losing streak.

In the first half, neither team led by more than four points. The Fighting Comets' (7-10, 1-5 MIAA) four-point lead, 17-13, was at the 8:48 mark. The Bulldogs (11-6, 5-2 MIAA) responded with an 8-0 run to take their four-point lead with five minutes left. Adrian led 30-28 at halftime.

Olivet used an 11-2 run to lead by seven, 39-32, at the 15:41 mark of the second half. The Bulldogs fought back and eventually took a four-point lead, 54-50, with just over eight minutes left. Again, the Comets answered and took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Kurtz at the 5:49 mark. Adrian cut its deficit to two points, 73-71. Following two technical fouls and an intentional foul by the Bulldogs with 10 seconds left, Olivet sealed the win by canning four-of-six free throws.

For the game, the Comets canned 34-of-44 free throws while Adrian made 15-of-24 free throws. Olivet also forced 22 turnovers and 12 steals.

Kurtz made three-of-seven field goals, including two three-pointers, and 15-of-17 free throws for his 23 points. Three other starters joined him in double digits – junior De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge) with 16, junior Greg Ravy (New Orleans, La./L.B. Landry) with 14 and sophomore Jerame File (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) with 12. Pruitt also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

Brian Schaefer scored 19 points to lead the Bulldogs. Adam Novak had 16 points and Mike Lewis chipped in with 13. Steve Thornton pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

Olivet will begin the second half of its round-robin MIAA schedule Saturday, Jan. 29 when it hosts Albion College at 3 p.m.