Men's basketball team opens season with 60-45 loss against Concordia

The Olivet College men's basketball opened its 2006-07 season with a 60-45 loss against Concordia University tonight in the first game of the Gary Morrison Tip-off Tournament at the Upton Center in Olivet. The Comets will play Andrews University Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Following a 9-9 tie with 13:22 remaining in the first half, Concordia (1-4) went on an 18-3 run to take its biggest lead of the half. Olivet closed the half with a 4-0 run to trail 29-18 at the break. The Cardinals stretched their lead to as many as 18 points on two occasions in the second half. The closest the Comets would get was 11 points with 8:05 left in the game when freshman Bryan Dutton (Napoleon) made a three-pointer.

Junior Brandon Way (Detroit/Southwestern) led Olivet with 12 points. He was joined in double figures by freshman Andy Sierminski (Jackson/Lumen Christi) with 11 points. Junior Jeff Cooper (Dowagiac) grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Nate Ashcraft paced Concordia with a game-high 21 points. Thomas Bray pulled down six rebounds.

Following the game against Andrews, the Comets will play NCAA Division II foe Saginaw Valley State University Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.