Men’s basketball team falls to #6 Albion, 73-63

The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) co-leader Albion College, 73-63, this afternoon at the Upton Center in Olivet. The Britons (17-1, 7-1) are ranked sixth in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

After Albion scored the first 10 points of the game, the Fighting Comets (7-11, 1-7 MIAA) tallied eight of the next nine points to cut their early deficit to three points. The Britons answered and went on to lead by as many as 12 on two occasions late in the first half. At halftime, Olivet trailed 37-29.

In the second half, a layup by senior Ronnie Pearson (Holly) at the 16:32 mark trimmed the Albion lead to six points, 44-38. The Britons stretched their lead to 14 points with just under 11 minutes left in the contest. Olivet closed to within six points in the final 2:38 of the game.

Leading the way for the Comets was sophomore Jerame File (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) with 16 points on five-of-seven shooting, including a perfect four-of-four from behind the arc. Junior De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge) contributed 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. Pearson had 11 points and team-high five rebounds.

Five Britons scored in double figures. Brandon Crawford had a team-high 16 points to go along with 15 rebounds. Mike Thomas chipped in with 13 points, Garrett Gibbons was next with 11 and Travis DePree and Zak Silas had 10 points apiece.

Olivet is next in action when it travels to play Kalamazoo College Wednesday, Feb. 2. Tip-off from the Anderson Athletic Center is 7:30 p.m.