Haas and Krum lead men’s basketball team to 87-80 win at Alma

OLIVET, Mich. – Freshman R.J. Haas (Albion) posted season-highs in points (26) and rebounds (13) in leading the Olivet College men's basketball team to an 87-80 win over Alma College tonight at Art Smith Arena in Alma. In addition, junior Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

The first four minutes and 16 seconds of the game featured three ties and three lead changes, with neither team leading by more than two points. The Scots took the first four-point lead of the game, 10-6. The Comets battled back to tie the game two more times, 12-12 and 14-14.

Alma then scored four straight points before Olivet caused two more deadlocks, 18-18 and 20-20. Olivet took its first lead since the 17:26 mark when Krum made a jump shot to make the score 24-23 with 5:54 left until halftime.

The Scots grabbed the lead back and surged ahead by five points two times, with the last time being 31-26 at the 2:23 mark. Sophomore T.J. Vondette (Hemlock) drained a three-pointer to make the score 31-29 but an Alma layup made the score 33-29 at the break.

The Comets scored the first five points of the second half to take a 34-33 lead. The Scots put seven of the next nine points of the scoreboard to gain a 40-36 lead. Olivet chipped away at the deficit and eventually took a 45-43 lead.

Alma tied the game twice, 45-45 and 47-47. The Comets took the lead back and did not relinquish it for the rest of the game on a pair of free throws by sophomore Eddie Rogers (Saginaw/Carrollton). Olivet pushed its lead to nine points, 68-59, at the 6:45 mark. The Scots went on to score six straight points to trail by three, 68-65, but they would not get any closer for the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets shot 46.0 percent (29-of-63) from the floor to 43.5 percent (30-of-69) for Alma. Both teams made four three-pointers. Olivet made 25-of-31 (80.6 percent) free throws to 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) for the Scots. The Comets committed only nine turnovers, including none in the second half.

Haas made 10-of-14 baskets and 6-of-8 free throws, while grabbing 12 of his 13 rebounds off the defensive glass for his first collegiate double-double. Krum drained six baskets, including one triple, and 10-of-12 free throws for his 23 points. Freshman Kevin Woodson (Lambertville/Monroe St. Mary Catholic) added 14 points. Rogers contributed 11 points.

Scott Nikodemski led Alma with 21 points. Isiah Law and Brandon Krause finished with 18 and 16 points, respectively. D.J. Beckman grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds.

Olivet (5-16, 3-6 MIAA) hosts Hope College Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Preceding the men's game, the Olivet women play Kalamazoo College at 6 p.m.

NOTES: Haas' previous scoring and rebounding highs was 14 points and five rebounds against Kalamazoo (Jan. 11) and Adrian (Feb. 1). Krum has scored more than 20 points in seven games this season. He is averaging 20 points in eight league games.