Men's basketball falls to Calvin, 84-56

The Olivet College men's basketball team played a solid first half against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) co-leader Calvin College before losing to the Knights, 84-56, tonight at the Calvin Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids.

Calvin (17-5, 9-2 MIAA) built an eight-point lead, 22-14, at the 9:24 mark of the first half. The Fighting Comets (9-13, 3-8 MIAA) battled back to take a 27-26 lead when junior De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge) made two free throws with 2:20 left before halftime. Calvin scored the last four points of the half and led 30-27 at halftime. The second half belonged to the Knights as they made 20-of-29 baskets and outscored Olivet, 54-29.

Junior Derek Kurtz (Jonesville/Hillsdale) and senior Ronnie Pearson (Holly) scored 10 points apiece for the Comets. Pearson also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Junior Greg Ravy (New Orleans, La./L.B. Landry) and sophomore Jerame File (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) had nine and seven points, respectively.

Andy Draayer had 25 points with seven three-pointers to lead the Knights. Dan Aultman contributed 18 points and eight rebounds. Brian Roelofs added 11 points off the bench.

Olivet is next in action Saturday, Feb. 12, when it hosts Hope College in the first game of a men's/women's basketball doubleheader. The men's game tips-off at 3 p.m., followed by the women's game against Calvin College at approximately 5 p.m.