Men’s basketball team opens MIAA play with 84-71 loss against Albion

The Olivet College men's basketball team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play tonight with a n 84-71 loss against Albion College inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

After Olivet scored the first basket of the game, the Britons scored 12 straight points to take a 12-2 lead at the 15:50 mark. The Comets came back with an 8-2 run to trim their deficit down to four points, 14-10, with 12:51 left before halftime. Olivet would not get any closer in the first half, as Albion led by as many as 15 points and settled for a 43-34 lead at the break. In the second half, the Comets cut the Albion lead down to six points two times. The last time was at 59-53 at the 11:16 mark.

Junior Andre Evans (Muskegon/Heights) led Olivet with 21 points. Junior Michael McClary (Bellaire) contributed 19 points, including an 11-for-13 performance at the charity stripe. Junior Nathan Jennings (Grant) chipped-in with 14 points and team-leading eight rebounds.

The Britons placed all five starters in double figures, led by Chris Hutton's game-high 22 points. He made 7-of-16 baskets, including 5-of-9 three-pointers. J.C. Cruse had 17 points, followed by Andre Bridges (13), Dave Stasiak (12) and Kolin Kazen (11). Cruse led the team with eight rebounds.

The Comets are back in action Saturday when they travel to play defending MIAA regular season champion Calvin College. Game time at the Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids is 3 p.m.