Men’s basketball team defeated by Trine, 83-68

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to Trine (Ind.) University, 83-68, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

After Trine scored the first basket of the game, the Comets scored the next eight points on a layup by senior Lee Gardner and three-pointers by sophomore Quintin Way and junior Eric Ewing. The Thunder answered with an 11-0 run to go up by five, 13-8. Trine kept the lead until Olivet tied the game at 19-19.

The Comets scored 10 of the next 15 points to take another five-point lead, 29-24. The teams exchanged baskets to make another five-point cushion for Olivet, 31-26, with 4:47 left in the opening half. The Thunder went on a 6-0 run to gain a 32-31 advantage.

Junior R.J. Haas then drained a free throw to complete an "old-fashioned" three-point play to put the Comets back on top, 34-32. Trine ended the half on a 6-0 run to take a 38-34 lead into the locker rooms.

The Thunder stretched their lead to 10 points early in the first half at 47-37. Olivet fought back to cut its deficit in half, 50-45, with 15:03 remaining in the game. Trine extended its lead back to double figures and it would stay that way for the rest of the game. The only time the lead was in single digits was after Ewing made his fourth and final three-pointer of the game to make the score 62-54.

For the game, Gardner posted his third double-double of the season with 24 points and game-high 12 rebounds. Ewing finished with 24 points. Junior Zach Walker dished out six assists.

The Thunder had four players score in double figures, led by Jared Holmquist's game-best 26 points. Kyle Dodson chipped-in 17, while Jordan Kreglow and Will Dixon added 13 and 12, respectively. Dodson grabbed a team-best six rebounds.

Olivet will pull the curtain closed on the 2015-16 season Saturday when it hosts Alma College at 7:30 p.m.