Men’s basketball: Woodson’s 23 points help Comets beat Pitt-Greensburg, 73-70

HOLLAND, Mich. – Sophomore Kevin Woodson scored a career-high 23 points to help the Olivet College men's basketball team beat University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (Pa.), 73-70, this afternoon in the second day of the Holland Sentinel/Russ Devette Classic at the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland. The win snaps a seven-game losing streak for the Comets. For his performance, Woodson was named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Bobcats scored the first seven points in the game before Olivet scored 12 of the next 15 points to take its first lead of the game, 12-10, at the 16:02 mark. Pitt-Greensburg tied the game on a pair of free throws. The Comets regained the lead on a basket and did not relinquish it for the rest of the half.

Olivet led by as many as eight points on three occasions in the opening half, with the last time being 38-30. The Comets took a six-point lead, 44-38, into the locker rooms at halftime.

In the second half, Olivet grabbed its largest lead of the game, 54-42, with 15:00 minutes left in the game. The Bobcats clawed back with a 19-6 run to take their first lead, 61-60, since the 16:13 mark of the first half. The Comets took the lead back on a basket before Jerell Figueroa put Pitt-Greensburg ahead 64-62 after he made a free throw to complete a three-point play at the 6:04 mark.

Olivet responded with a 7-0 scoring spurt for a 69-64 lead with 2:59 remaining. The Bobcats got as close as one point, 71-70, in the last minute of the game. Sophomore Eric Ewing made a jumper to put the Comets up by three points. Pitt-Greensburg attempted two three-pointers in the final 10 seconds but neither dropped through the net to tie the game.

Olivet shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the floor, with seven baskets from behind the arc, and 52.2 percent (12-of-23) from the free throw line. The Bobcats were 24-of-54 (44.4 percent) from the floor, with five triples, and 17-of-20 (85 percent) from the charity stripe.

Woodson made 8-of-17 baskets, including 4-of-8 from three-point land, and 3-of-4 free throws for his 23 points. He also had six rebounds, two blocks and two assists in 31 minutes of playing time. Ewing chipped in 10 points and team-leading four steals. Junior Alex Antic came off the bench to contribute seven points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.

Marcus Thomas had a double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds, to lead Pitt-Greensburg. Rocco Contristano finished with 12 points, while Figueroa and Brian Heinle scored 10 points apiece.  

Olivet is now off until Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 27-28, when it travels to Alliance, Ohio, to participate in the University of Mount Union (Ohio)/M-Club Classic. On Saturday, the Comets will play North Central (Ill.) College at 5 p.m., and on Sunday, they face Mount Union at 3 p.m.

NOTE: Woodson's previous career-high was 21 points on Dec. 12, 2013, against Lawrence Tech.