Men's basketball team falls to Hope, 79-57

The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) leader Hope College, 79-57, tonight at the Upton Center in Olivet.

After the Flying Dutchmen (17-2, 9-0 MIAA) built a 14-point lead at the 5:34 mark of the first half, the Comets (5-14, 3-6 MIAA) went on a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to trim their deficit to seven points, 33-26. Hope closed the half with a 10-2 run to lead 43-28 at halftime. Olivet did not get any closer in the second half.

For the Comets, junior Jeff Cooper (Dowagiac) scored a career-high 24 points. Junior Brandon Way (Detroit/Southwestern) joined him in double figures with 14 points. Cooper and freshman Jon Shurr (Valparaiso, Ind./Boone Grove) each had five rebounds.

Tyler Wolfe was a spark off the bench with 20 points for the Dutchmen. Derek Van Solkema contributed 13 points, while Ryan Klein and Stephen Cramer had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Cramer grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

Olivet is back in action Saturday, Feb. 3, when it hosts Tri-State (Ind.) University in the second game of men's/women's basketball doubleheader. The Comet women will play Adrian College at 3 p.m., followed by the men's varsity game at 7:30 p.m.