Men’s basketball team comes from behind to beat Trine, 85-80

The Olivet College men's basketball team rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to beat Trine (Ind.) University, 85-80, today in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest inside The Cutler Event in Olivet.

Neither team led by more than five points in the first 16 minutes, 39 seconds of the game. The Thunder were the first team to gain a lead of more than five points, 33-27, with just 3:21 left before halftime. The teams exchanged baskets before Chris Mislan made a layup at the halftime buzzer to stretch Trine's lead to nine points, 45-36.

In the second half, the Comets took their first lead since the 12:27 mark of the opening half when senior Andy Clark (Lansing/Perry) made back-to-back three-pointers to put them up 61-60. The Thunder would regain the lead and make it a six-point game, 69-63, with 6:21 left in the game. Olivet answered with a 10-0 run, capped by consecutive three-pointers by sophomore Jaren Edsall (Whitehall). The triples gave the Comets a 73-69 lead, which they did not relinquish for the rest of the game. Twice in the final minute of the game and Olivet clinging to the lead, junior Joe Post (Olivet) blocked Trine's potential go-ahead or game-tying shot.

For Olivet, junior Michael McClary (Bellaire) was one of four Comets in double figures, scoring a team-high 23 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Junior Andre Evans (Muskegon/Heights) contributed 17 points and nine assists. Edsall finished with a career-high 15 points, while Clark had 10 points.

For Trine, Scott Rogers scored a game-high 30 points on 14-of-18 shooting from the floor. Wes Weir and Tab McNally added 15 and 10 points, respectively.

The Comets travel to play Adrian College Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m.