Men’s basketball team falls to Hope, 78-53

The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Hope College, 78-53, today at the Upton Center in Olivet.

After the Comets (4-9, 0-2 MIAA) scored the first two points, the Flying Dutchmen (12-0, 1-0 MIAA) countered with a jumper and three-pointer to go up 5-2. Hope used a 13-0 run to take a 20-6 lead with 12:54 left in the first half. The Dutchmen held on for a 41-27 lead at halftime. In the second half, Hope led by as many as 31 points, 70-39, at the 7:32 mark.

Senior Gerald Dozie (Detroit/Southeastern) was the lone Olivet player in double figures with 12 points. Senior Derek Kurtz (Hillsdale/Jonesville) contributed nine points, while senior Steve Johnson (Detroit/Murray Wright) added eight points and a team-high five rebounds.

Marcus Vanderheide led the Dutchmen with 15 points, followed by Andy Phillips and Eric Voisin with 12 points apiece. Jesse Reimink came off the bench to grab a team-high eight rebounds.

Olivet stays home and will face Tri-State (Ind.) University next Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m.