Men’s basketball team defeats Alma, 80-76

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team avenged a loss earlier this season to Alma College with an 80-76 win  over the Scots today in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

The first 14 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth affair, with three tied scores and six lead changes. The Comets grabbed the lead for good at the 5:52 mark on a layup from freshman Jeff Cain (Lansing/Sexton). That basket ignited a 15-3 run to push Olivet's lead to double digits, 36-25. The Comets led by 13 points in later stages of the half, and eventually led by 10, 45-35, at halftime.

Olivet maintained a two-possession lead for the first 15 minutes of the second half. Alma's Greg Silverthorn made a 3-pointer with 5:14 left to make the score, 70-67. The Comets were able to extend their lead back to seven points, 76-69 and 78-71.

The Scots went on a 5-0 run to trail by only two points, 78-76, with 41.9 seconds remaining. Junior DaunTrell Hill (Grand Rapids/Wyoming Godwin Heights) made two free throws with 23.6 seconds left for the final margin of victory.

For the game, Olivet made 31-of-59 baskets (52.5 percent), while Alma made 29-of-64 baskets (45.3 percent). Twelve of the Comets' baskets came from behind the arc, while the Scots made five more free throws. Overall, Olivet had four players reach double figures in the scoring column.

Sophomore Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) scored a team-leading 19 points. Seniors Garner Small (Schoolcraft) and sDakotah Ellis (Birch Run) finished with 18 and 15 points, while Cain scored a career-high 14 points. Small also led the team with seven rebounds, while Hill recorded five assists.

Isiah Law  paced the Scots with 19 points. Silverthorn and Jacob Murawske each had 16.

The Comets will travel to play Adrian College next Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m.