Men’s basketball team defeats Madonna, 79-55

The Olivet College men's basketball team defeated Madonna University, 79-55, tonight in the second game of the MIAA-WHAC Challenge at Madonna's Activities Center in Livonia. In the first game of the challenge, Alma defeated Michigan-Dearborn, 71-68.

In the first half, Olivet led by as many as 19 points on three occasions. The first time was at the 6:56 mark when senior Blake Brannick (Jackson/Lumen Christi) canned the first of two free throws. The third time was at halftime, 43-24. Junior Michael McClary (Bellaire) played 18 minutes in the first half, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Junior Nathan Jennings (Grant) also had 10 points. In the second half, the Comets extended their lead to 22 points, 50-28. The Crusaders came back and trimmed their deficit to 14 points two times, but they did not get any closer, as Olivet built its lead back to 25 points.

Jennings finished the game with a career-high 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. McClary posted his 23rd career double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds. The rebounds were one shy of a career-high. Senior Bryan Dutton (Jackson/Napoleon) and junior Andre Evans (Muskegon/Muskegon Heights) each scored nine points.

For Madonna, Leroy Allen scored a team-high 16 points. Kevin Henry added 10 points. Allen and Ran Waidmann had seven rebounds apiece.

The four teams will flip-flop opponents for the second day of the challenge tomorrow. Olivet will play Michigan-Dearborn at noon, followed by the host Crusaders versus Alma at 2 p.m.