Men's basketball team upsets Calvin, 60-57

The Olivet College men's basketball team upset Calvin College, 60-57, tonight in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest at the Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids. Calvin entered the game first in the MIAA standings. In addition, Olivet has beaten the Knights on their home court for the first time since Feb. 12, 1986.

In the first half, Calvin led by as many as seven points, 26-19, at the 7:49 mark. Olivet rattled off seven straight points to tie the game, 26-26. After another tied score at 28-28, the Comets went ahead on a three-pointer by junior Andy Clark (Lansing/Perry) with 3:57 left before halftime. The Knights knotted the score with a three with 16 seconds showing on the clock. Olivet answered and took a two-point lead, 31-29, at halftime on a jumper by sophomore Andre Evans (Muskegon/Muskegon Heights) with two seconds remaining.

The Comets stretched their lead to seven points, 39-32, with 15:02 left in regulation. Calvin rallied back with an 11-0 scoring spurt to regain the lead, 43-39. Olivet grabbed the lead back after freshman Jaren Edsall (Whitehall) drained three free throws and sophomore Michael McClary (Bellaire) made a layup to make the score, 44-43.

The teams traded the lead two more times before a three-pointer from Evans put the Comets ahead for good. Olivet extended its lead to as many as eight points, 56-48, at the 5:22 mark. Twice in the final 5:22, Calvin made it a three-point game. The Knights also missed four game-tying three-pointers in the final 18 seconds.

For Olivet, Evans finished with a game-high 19 points, including 5-of-9 shooting from behind the arc. Michael McClary posted his seventh double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Brandon McClary (Bellaire) had eight points. Overall, the Comets recorded 17 assists on 23 made baskets, while Calvin had just six assists on 22 baskets.

Matt Veltema came off the bench to score a team-leading 15 points for the Knights. Dustin Smith and John Mantel had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Mantel also grabbed nine rebounds.

Olivet hosts Alma College Saturday. Tip-off from The Cutler Event Center is 3 p.m.