Men’s basketball team loses to Calvin, 65-61

The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) regular season champion Calvin College, 65-61, this afternoon at Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids.

Olivet jumped out to a 17-4 lead in the first seven minutes of the game. Calvin scored seven straight points to make the score, 17-11, at the 10:10 mark. The Comets answered with their own seven-point scoring spurt to regain a 13-point lead, 24-11. The teams traded baskets for Olivet's final 13-point lead, 26-13, of the first half. The Knights closed the half with a 13-5 run to cut its deficit to five points, 31-26, at the halftime break.

Calvin scored the first five points of the second half to tie the game at 31-31. After an Olivet basket, a Knight three-pointer put them ahead for good, 34-33. Calvin's lead swelled to 10 points for a brief time. In the final 30 seconds of the game, the Comets closed to within two points, 63-61. Two free throws sealed the Knights' win.

For Olivet, junior Michael McClary (Bellaire) led all players with 24 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. Junior Andre Evans (Muskegon/Heights) added 14 points and junior Nathan Jennings (Grant) had 11 points.

John Mantel led the Knights with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Danny Rodts and Tom Snikkers finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Comets return to the court next Wednesday, Jan. 13, when they travel to Holland to play defending MIAA Tournament