Krum helps men’s basketball open MIAA play with 88-83 OT win at Adrian

ADRIAN, Mich. – Junior Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) led all scorers with 29 points, including 25 in the second half and overtime, as the Olivet College men's basketball team defeated Adrian College, 88-83, in its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opener tonight at the Merillat Center in Adrian.

In the first half, Adrian led by as many as seven points, 24-17. The Comets battled back with a 10-2 run to take a 27-26 lead with 4:04 left before halftime. The Bulldogs regained the lead, 29-27, with three free throws. Olivet took the lead back 31-29 after it made four free throws – two for Krum and two for sophomore Eddie Rogers (Saginaw/Carrollton). Adrian made a jump shot to tie the game, 31-31, at halftime.

The teams traded baskets in the early stages of the second half before the Bulldogs seized a five-point lead, 43-38, at the 15:27 mark. The Comets fought back with a 5-0 run to tie the game. Adrian answered with a 6-0 run to take a for a 49-43 lead. The Bulldogs continued to hold the lead until Olivet tied the game at 66-66.

Adrian grabbed the lead back on a three-point play. Krum tied the game on his third consecutive three-pointer. The Bulldogs took the lead on a jump shot to take a 71-69 lead. Olivet tied the game at 71-71 on a fastbreak layup by junior Alex Mayo (Lake Orion). Both teams had chances to win the game in regulation but missed shots.

In the overtime period, Krum made a pair of free throws to put the Comets ahead, 73-71. Olivet held a lead in the overtime until the Bulldogs knotted the score at 78-78. Rogers gave the lead back to the Comets, 81-78, on a three-pointer. Adrian cut its deficit to one point with a pair of free throws.

Krum made a layup to extend Olivet's lead to three points, 83-80. The Bulldogs were called for a travel on their next possession, forcing them to foul with 30.7 seconds left. Krum who drained two free throws to make the score 85-80. After the Bulldogs missed a three-pointer, Krum split two tosses from the charity stripe for an 86-80 lead.

Adrian made a triple to cut its deficit in half, 86-83. Junior Jordan Union (Jackson) pushed Olivet's lead to the final margin with two free throws.

For the game, Olivet made 30-of-60 field goals (50 percent), including 9-of-21 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc, and 19-of-27 (70.4 percent) from the charity stripe. Adrian shot 56 percent (28-of-50) from the floor, 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from three-point land and 73.5 percent (25-of-34) from the free throw line.

Krum made 9-of-16 baskets, with three 3-pointers, and 8-of-9 free throws for his 29 points. Union and freshman Kevin Woodson (Lambertville/Monroe St. Mary Catholic) each scored 15 points. Sophomore T.J. Vondette (Hemlock) finished with 12 points and game-high nine rebounds.

Ben Rodak was one of four Adrian starters to score in double figures, leading the team with 23 points. Curtis Gordon added 19, while Rickey Jackson and Earl Swift had 14 and 12, respectively. Chris Tucker came off the bench to grab a team-leading seven rebounds.

Olivet hosts Kalamazoo College in the second game of a basketball doubleheader Saturday afternoon, starting at 5 p.m. Prior to the men's game, the Comet women will play a non-conference game against Rochester College.