Men’s basketball: Comets lose to Marygrove, 78-72

Sophomore R.J. Haas posted his first double-double (17 points and 11 rebounds) of the season, but it was not enough as the Olivet College men’s basketball team lost 78-72 to Marygrove College tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Box Score

Team Stats

Men’s basketball: Comets lose to Marygrove, 78-72
December 15, 2014

OLIVET, Mich. – Sophomore R.J. Haas posted his first double-double (17 points and 11 rebounds) of the season, but it was not enough as the Olivet College men's basketball team lost 78-72 to Marygrove College tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. With the loss, the Comets' record slips to 1-6. The Mustangs improve to 3-10 with their win.

In the first half, Marygrove led by 13 points, 25-12, at the 11:50 mark after Darryll Dixon made a free throw to complete a three-point play. Olivet chipped away at its deficit and was down by only three points, 30-27, with 4:52 left before halftime.

The Mustangs scored five straight points to take an eight-point lead 35-27. The Comets answered with a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 36-35, with 50 seconds remaining in the opening half. Marygrove countered with a 6-0 spurt to gain a 41-36 lead. Haas beat the halftime buzzer with a three-pointer to make the score 41-39 at the break.

In the second half, Olivet took its first lead at the 12:52 mark when senior Jordan Union made a fast break layup for a 53-52 lead. The Mustangs made a layup to take the lead back and they did not relinquish it for the rest of the game.

For the game, Olivet made 30 baskets, including nine 3-pointers, while Marygrove made 26 baskets, with eight triples. The difference in the game was the Mustangs making 18-of-33 free throws while the Comets were only 3-of-6 from the charity stripe.

Haas made 8-of-19 baskets for his 17 points, while four of his 11 rebounds were off the offensive glass. He also dished out four assists. Sophomore Aaron Washington came off the bench and scored a career-high 15 points. Union contributed 13 points.

The tandem of Dixon and Diante Taylor led the Mustangs. Dixon had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Taylor scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds. Tyler Sykes added 10 points, and Sirafino Davis also finished with 11 rebounds. 

The Comets are back in action Friday and Saturday at the Holland Sentinel/Russ DeVette Classic, hosted by Hope College. On Friday night, Olivet plays University of Mount Union (Ohio) at 6 p.m., and on Saturday afternoon, it plays University of Pittsburg at Greensburg (Pa.) at 1 p.m.