Men’s basketball team drains 13 three-pointers to defeat Alma, 74-59

Senior Andy Clark (Lansing/Perry) scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Olivet College men's basketball team to a 74-59 win over Alma College tonight at Cappaert Gymnasium in Alma. In the win, the Comets drained 13 three-pointers, including eight by Clark.

After the Scots took a 12-8 lead at the 12:32 mark of the first half, the Comets went on a 14-4 run over the next six minutes to take a 22-14 lead. Olivet led by eight points, 27-19, for a second time with 2:20 left before halftime. Alma scored the final five points to trail by three points, 27-24, at the break. In the second half, the Comets extended their lead to as many as 20 points, 59-39, with 8:59 left in regulation.

For the game, Olivet made 28 baskets, including 13 from behind the arc. The Scots had 21 baskets with seven from three-point range. The Comets out-rebounded Alma, 37-34.

Clark canned 8-of-12 three-pointers for his 24 points. Junior Andre Evans (Muskegon/Muskegon Heights) posted the rare points-assists double-double, as he scored 18 points and dished out 10 assists. Junior Nathan Jennings (Grant) added 10 points. Junior Michael McClary (Bellaire) grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, but was held to just eight points. He made three field goals to break Olivet's single-season record. The previous record was 202 by Jeff Bell during the 1996-97 season.

Alma was led by Tommy Erickson with 14 points. Kevin Ginther contributed 13 points. Jake Weiss pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

Olivet will host Kalamazoo College Saturday in its MIAA regular season finale. Tip-off inside The Cutler Event Center is 3 p.m.