Men’s basketball: Olivet rallies but Trine holds on for 87-74 win

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team rallied from a double digit deficit in the second half to take the lead before Trine (Ind.) University used a 12-0 run late in the game to beat the Comets, 87-74, this evening at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

In the first half, the Thunder took a 16-point lead, 30-14, after Tarvis Malone made a three-pointer at the 7:08 mark. Olivet chipped away at its deficit and got it down to single digits, 37-28, at halftime. Trine stretched its lead back to double figures, 40-28, when Jared Holmquist made a free throw to complete a three-point play at the start of the second half.

The Comets fought back and took a 58-57 lead when sophomore R.J. Haas made a layup with 9:04 left in the game. The Thunder answered with free throws and baskets to take a pair of three-point leads, 61-58 and 63-60. Senior DeOndre Callahan tied the game at 63-63 after he drained a free throw for a three-point play.

Will Dixon put Trine back ahead, 65-63, with two free throws. Freshman Jake Zielinski handed the lead back to Olivet, 66-65, when he made a three-pointer. Jake Bagley answered with a triple for a 68-66 Thunder lead. Zielinksi drove the lane for a layup to tie the game, 68-68, at the 5:31 mark.

From there, the Thunder went on their decisive 12-0 run. During that run, the Comets missed four shots and turned the ball over once, while Trine made 3-of-4 baskets and all five free shots from the free throw line. Olivet was never able to get its deficit down to single digits, as the Thunder made 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute of the game.

After shooting 33.3 percent in the first half, the Comets did better in the second half, 55.6 percent, to finish at 47.4 percent (27-of-57) for the game. Callahan led the way with 22 points. Zielinski contributed 20 points. Sophomore Kevin Woodson came off the bench to score 12 points, including 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Haas grabbed a team-leading five rebounds.

Trine shot identical 55.6 percentages in both halves. Dixon led all scorers with 29 points. Holmquist added 18, followed by Tyler Good and Bagley with 16 and 13, respectively.

Olivet starts the second half of its league schedule Saturday when it travels to play Adrian College at 3 p.m.