Men’s basketball team weathers storm in 82-78 win over Thunder

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team erased a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat Trine (Ind.) University, 82-78, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) game this afternoon at the Upton Center Gymnasium.

Final Score: Olivet 82, Trine (Ind.) 78
Location: Upton Center Gymnasium; Olivet, Michigan
Records: Trine 13-10 overall, 7-5 MIAA; Olivet 6-17 overall, 3-9 MIAA

• The Thunder led by four points twice in the first six minutes of the game. After the last time at 12-8, senior Ryan Franklin made back-to-back layups to tie the game. The teams traded baskets to create three more tied scores. A three-pointer by junior Eddie Thigpen put the Comets ahead, 20-17.
• Trine made a basket before four straight points by senior Keyon Rainey gave Olivet its largest lead of the half, 24-19, at the 8:44 mark. The Thunder responded with a 13-3 run to gain their own five-point advantage, 32-27. An 8-3 Comet spurt leveled the score.
• A Trine three-pointer followed by back-to-back Olivet baskets made the score 39-38 with 1:01 left until halftime. The Thunder made two free throws before a layup by junior Chris Martin handed the lead back to the Comets at halftime, 41-40.
• Trine opened the second half on a 13-2 run to take its 10-point lead, 53-43, at the 15:30 mark. Olivet then scored 12 unanswered points over the next four minutes to take a 55-53 lead. The Thunder drained a three-pointer to re-gain the lead. Rainey responded with a jump shot to put the Comets back on top, 57-56.
• The Comets maintained the lead until the Thunder tied the game, 78-78, with 1:04 remaining. A jumper by Rainey with 45.7 seconds left broke the tie. Rainey then stripped the ball from Trine's Langston Johnson. Rainey then sank two free throws to help seal the Comets' win.
• For the game, the Comets shot 47.9 percent from the floor (34-of-71) compared to 38.9 percent (28-of-72) for the Thunder. Trine made two more three-pointers (10 to 8) and six more free throws (12 to 6).

• Four players scored in double figures.
• Thigpen tallied a game-best 19 points.
• Freshman Britton Angell added 18 points.
• Martin was next with 13 points.
• Rainey finished with 12 points to go along with a game-high nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.

• Five players reached double figures in the scoring column.
• Maurice Hunter had a team-high 16 points.
• Johnson and Brent Cox each scored 12.
• Marcus Winters registered 11 points.
• Brandan Johnson came off the bench to score 10.
• Hunter grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

• Olivet concludes its regular season next week. On Wednesday, the Comets will host Adrian College at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, they travel to play Albion College at 3 p.m.