Olivet College’s Adams named MIAA MVP for men’s basketball

Edmond and Mason join him on All-MIAA teams

FREELAND, Mich. – Olivet College senior Jalen Adams has been named the 2018 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player. In addition, junior Tracy Edmond joins him in earning first-team All-MIAA honors, and senior Eldridge Mason is a second-team All-MIAA selection. All-league honors are based on a player's statistics during the 14-game conference schedule.

Under the leadership of second-year head coach Steve Ernst, the Comets shared the MIAA title with a 10-4 conference record. It is the first league championship in school history since 1973 and only the sixth in 107 years of Comet basketball.

"It was truly a special year at Olivet," said Ernst. "I am very lucky to have been involved with a special group of student-athletes who set very high goals for themselves. The chance to be a part of a MIAA championship will be with us all forever."

In the 14 MIAA games, Adams was the MIAA scoring champion at 26.3 points per game and also led the league in rebounding (11.4 rpg), total points (368), offensive rebounds (50), defensive rebounds (109), total rebounds (159) and free throws made (93). He also ranked second in steals (27).

Adams earns the sixth MIAA MVP award in school history and it is the eighth time the MIAA scoring champion is from Olivet. Overall in 25 games, he is averaging 26.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Adams has 660 points and is 17 shy of breaking the Comets' single-season record.

"Jalen is going to be remembered as one of the greats in MIAA history," said Ernst. "He is a tremendous role model for all aspiring basketball players."

Edmond led the conference in total assists (100), assists per game (7.1) and steals (32). He was fourth in scoring (20.0 ppg). In 25 total games, Edmond is averaging 20.9 points per game and has broken Olivet's single-season record with 178 total assists.

"Tracy has done exactly what I had hoped he would do when transferring here to Olivet," said Ernst. "He brought a winner's mindset with him from Lansing Community College and Coach Ingram."

Mason averaged 13.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in the 14 league games. Overall in 25 games, he has an 11.8 scoring average.

"Eldridge has been a great addition to the program," said Ernst. "He has been a true student-athlete and has always put the Comets first.

The Comets host the 2018 MIAA Tournament tomorrow and Saturday inside the Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The first semifinal at 5 p.m. features No. 2 seed Hope College playing No. 3 Adrian College. The top-seed Comets face No. 4 seed Trine (Ind.) University at 7:45 p.m. The winners will square off in the championship game Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.