Men's basketball team comes from behind to beat Kalamazoo, 63-60

The Olivet College men's basketball team rallied from eight points down with four minutes left in the game to beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Kalamazoo College, 63-60, this afternoon at the Upton Center in Olivet. Junior Jeff Cooper (Dowagiac) put the Comets up by three points with 16.9 second remaining when he made a free throw to complete a three-point play. A three-pointer by Kalamazoo bounced off the rim and Cooper grabbed the rebound.

In the first half, the Hornets (2-13, 0-6 MIAA) built a seven-point lead on three occasions with the last time being, 24-17, with 4:42 left. Olivet (4-12, 2-4 MIAA) closed the half with an 11-2 run to take a 28-26 lead into the locker rooms.

The first 10 minutes of the second half was back and forth with neither team leading by more than four points. Kalamazoo appeared to take control of the game when it scored six straight points to take the eight-point lead, 59-51, with four minutes remaining. The Comets went on a 9-1 run to tie the game at 60-60 at the 1:16 mark. With 19 seconds left and under his own basket, Cooper stripped the ball from a Kalamazoo post player, who had grabbed a defensive rebound. He followed with a layup and was fouled on the play.

For the game, each team's starters scored 43 points, but the Comet bench outscored the Hornet bench, 20-17. Junior Brandon Way (Detroit/Southwestern) led Olivet with a team-high 17 points. Cooper contributed 15 points and a team-high five rebounds.

Pat Clancy paced Kalamazoo with 17 points, including three three-pointers. Mat Kellogg added 16 points. Tyler Worst grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with three assists.

The Comets travel to play MIAA rival Albion College Wednesday, Jan. 24. Tip-off from Kresge Gym is 7:30 p.m.