Men’s basketball team tripped up by Adrian, 83-76, in overtime

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team began the second half of its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association schedule with an 83-76 overtime loss to Adrian College this evening at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

The first 10 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth affair, with three lead changes and four tied scores. Following a 17-17 deadlock, the Bulldogs scored five straight points to go up 22-17 at the 9:19 mark. Adrian stretched its lead to nine points on two occasions, with the last time being 30-21. The Comets responded with an 8-0 run over the next three and one-half minutes to close the gap to only one point, 30-29. The teams traded three-point baskets late in the half, as Olivet had to settle for a three-point deficit at the break, 38-35.

The Bulldogs led by as many 14 points, 57-43, at the 10:35 mark of the second half. The Comets scored six straight points to trim their deficit down to eight points, 57-49, before Adrian made a basket to push its lead back to double digits, 59-49.

Olivet then went on a 15-1 run to gain a four-point lead, 64-60, with 3:32 left in regulation. During the run, junior Eric Ewing made two three-pointers, sophomore Quintin Way scored five points and junior R.J. Haas made a pair of layups. After Adrian made a free throw to get within three points, Ewing made a jumper to give the Comets their largest lead of the game, 66-61.

The Bulldogs went on a mini 5-0 run to tie the game at 66-66. Haas made a layup to put Olivet back on top before Adrian knotted the score one more time at 68-68. Both teams traded missed baskets, and Ewing grabbed a defensive rebound. He was then fouled at mid-court with 9.1 seconds remaining. He made both free throws and the Comets led 70-68. The Bulldogs rushed up the floor, and Travon Johnson made a driving layup with 2.6 ticks left to send the game to overtime.

Adrian led the entire extra period. The Bulldogs made 3-of-5 baskets and drained all six of their free throw attempts. Olivet made just 2-of-9 baskets in overtime.

The Comets placed four starters in double figures, led by Ewing's 18 points. Haas and Way provided 14 points each, while junior Zach Walker had 10. The 14 for Way was a career-high. Haas finished the game with four blocked shots to go along with nine rebounds. Senior Lee Gardner also grabbed nine rebounds.

For the Bulldogs, Christian Covile scored a game-high 42 points and pulled down a game-best 10 rebounds. Rickey Jackson, Jr. had 13 points, while Johnson scored 11 and dished out a team-best seven assists.

Olivet will play both of its games next week on the road. On Wednesday night, the Comets play an 8 p.m. game at Hope College, and on Saturday afternoon, they face Calvin College at 3 p.m.