Men’s basketball team ends season with 82-70 loss to Trine

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team ended its season with an 82-70 loss to Trine (Ind.) University today at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

In the first half, the Thunder built an 11-point lead, 27-16, at the 8:31 mark. The Comets came back with 16-8 to trail by only three points, 35-32, with 1:02 left until halftime. Trine's Nick Tatu made a three-pointer to push its lead back to six points, 38-32, at the break.

Olivet opened the second half with a 13-6 run to take its first lead, 45-44, after sophomore T.J. Vondette (Hemlock) drained a free throw to complete a three-point play. The teams exchanged baskets until the Comets surged ahead by five points, 54-49, with 12:35 remaining in regulation.

The Thunder answered with a 6-0 scoring spurt to take a 55-54 lead. Olivet grabbed the lead back when junior Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) made a triple from the top of the arc for a 57-55 lead. Trine tied the game and took the lead back, 59-57, on a layup and two free throws.

The Comets regained the lead, 60-59, after freshman R.J. Haas (Albion) drained a free throw to complete his own three-point play. The Thunder got a three-pointer to take a two-point lead, 62-60. Olivet knotted the score one more time, 62-62, when sophomore Alex Mayo (Lake Orion) made a layup at the 7:19 mark.

Over the next six minutes of clock time, Trine scored 14 consecutive points for a 76-62 lead. The Thunder did not give the lead for the rest of the game, as they made 6-of-6 free throws.

For the contest, Olivet made two more baskets than Trine, 27-25. Both teams drained nine baskets from behind the arc. The difference in the game was the Thunder hit 23-of-27 free throws to 7-of-7 for the Comets. Overall, Olivet shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the floor.

Haas led the Comets with 18 points. Freshman Kevin Woodson (Lambertville/Monroe St. Mary Catholic) came off the bench to score 15 points, while Krum had 14. Vondette grabbed a team-leading six rebounds.

For Trine, Will Dixon led all scorers with 27 points. Tyler Good added 16 points, while Jared Holmquist and Nick Tatu each had 12. Todd Watkins provided a game-high eight rebounds.

NOTES: Prior to the game Olivet recognized its only senior, Jared Kaczmarczyk (Birch Run), who was playing in his final collegiate basketball game. A four-year member of the basketball program, he started the game, scoring four points and dishing out two assists.