Men’s basketball team defeats Adrian, 65-62, for third straight win

ADRIAN, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team moved into a tie for first-place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings with 65-62 win over Adrian College tonight at the Merillat Center in Adrian.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 65, Adrian 62
Location: Merillat Center; Adrian, Mich.
Records: Olivet 9-7 overall, 4-1 MIAA; Adrian 13-3 overall, 4-1 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first half, there were two tied scores and nine lead changes. The Comets led by as many as five points, 27-22. The Bulldogs put 11 straight points on the scoreboard to go up by six points, 33-27. Olivet scored the final five points of the opening half to trail by just one point, 33-32, at the break.
• The Comets took a brief 34-33 lead six seconds into the second half. Adrian answered with an 11-1 run to go up by eight points, 44-36. The Bulldogs maintained their lead until Olivet leveled the score at 52-52 with 7:10 left in the game.
• The Comets grabbed a two-point lead 54-52 after senior Blake Siersema made a layup. Adrian responded with a 5-0 scoring spurt before a dunk by senior Jalen Adams tied the game at 57-57. The Bulldogs took the lead on a pair of free throws but Adams made two free throws to even the score at 59-59.
• Adrian had a chance to take the lead but missed two free throws. At the other end of the court, Adams drained two more free throws to put Olivet ahead. The Bulldogs had chances to tie the game but missed the front end of a one-and-one chance at the charity stripe and missed a basket before getting called for an offensive foul.
• Adams stretched the Comets' lead to four points, 63-59, with a layup with just under a minute remaining. Adrian cut its deficit in half on two free throws. Junior Tracy Edmond drove the lane for a layup put Olivet back ahead by four points, 65-61. The Bulldogs split two free throws in the final seconds to create the final margin.

FOR THE COMETS

• Edmond led all players with 24 points.
• Adams posted his ninth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
• Junior John McAdoo also grabbed 10 rebounds, as Olivet out-rebounded Adrian, 44-29.

FOR THE BULLDOGS

• Jeremy Kalonji paced Adrian with 21 points and six rebounds.
• Justin Webster chipped-in 20 points.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With the exception of the first MIAA game of the season, the Comets are on top of the league standings for the first time this season.
• The Comets are tied with the Bulldogs. Adrian entered the game riding a 10-game winning streak.

UP NEXT

• Olivet stays on the road to play Hope College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.