Men’s basketball team loses to Mount Union, 104-97

ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Olivet College men's basketball team lost 104-97 to University of Mount Union (Ohio) in the second day of the M-Club Classic in Alliance, Ohio.

Olivet led by six points, 18-12, at the 12:46 mark of the opening half after sophomore T.J. Vondette (Hemlock) made a 3-pointer. The Purple Raiders came back and tied the game at 22-22 and 24-24. Cody Dillon drained a 3-pointer to put Mount Union ahead by three points, 27-24, and it never looked back. The Purple Raiders built their lead to as many as 13 points in the first half, 53-40, before a Comet basket made the score 53-42 at halftime.

Mount Union took a 19-point cushion, 70-51, at the 16:01 mark of the second half. Undeterred, the Comets went on a 14-1 run to trail by only six points, 71-65. Olivet would not draw any closer for the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets made one more basket than the Purple Raiders, 33-32, and both teams made 24 free throws. The difference in the game was Mount Union hit 16 shots from behind the arc to only seven for Olivet.

The Comets placed four starters in double figures, led by a season-high 26 points from junior Jordan Union (Jackson). Junior Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) finished with 19 points, while Vondette and freshman Kevin Woodson (Lambertville/Monroe St. Mary Catholic) each had 16. Union had a solid overall game with nine rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Jarrett Ruffin scored 31 points to lead the Purple Raiders.

Olivet is off until Wednesday, Jan. 8, when it opens Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play with a 7:30 p.m. game at Adrian College.