Men’s basketball team loses heartbreaker to Calvin, 63-57, in 2010 MIAA Tournament semifinals

The Olivet College men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker to Calvin College, 63-57, tonight in the 2010 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament semifinals at the Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids. With the win, Calvin advances to the MIAA Tournament championship game tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., while the Comets end their season with a 14-13 overall record.

Following a 4-4 tie, Olivet went on a 16-4 run to go up by 12 points, 20-8, for the first time in the game. The Knights answered with a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to three points, 20-17. The Comets answered with a 12-3 scoring spurt to take another 12-point lead, 32-20. Calvin scored the final seven points of the half to trail 32-27 at intermission.

Olivet started the second half with a 9-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 41-27. The Knights responded with their own 13-0 run to make it a one-point game, 41-40. The Comets came right back with an 8-2 run to go back up by seven points, 49-42. Olivet continued to lead until the 3:21 mark when Matt Veltema put Calvin ahead, 56-55, with a jumper. After a Comet turnover, the Knights buried a three-pointer for a four-point lead.

Olivet got a basket to cut its deficit to two points, 59-57, with 1:44 left in regulation. Following a Calvin turnover, the Comets missed a go-ahead three-pointer. From there, Olivet was forced to foul and the Knights responded by making 4-of-4 free throws in the final 16 seconds.

In his final collegiate game, senior Andy Clark (Lansing/Perry) posted a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. Junior Michael McClary (Bellaire) scored a team-high 14 points, pulled down nine rebounds and blocked three shots. Junior Andre Evans (Muskegon/Muskegon Heights) dished out six assists.

For Calvin, Veltema led all scorers with 15 points, while John Mantel had 13 points. Danny Rodts grabbed a team-leading six rebounds.

NOTES: McClary broke two single-season records (field goals made, 222; and field goals attempted, 430). He tied the record for blocks (44) and narrowly missed breaking the scoring record with 534 points. The record is 546 by Jeff Bell during the 1996-97 season.