Men’s basketball team defeats Mich.-Dearborn, 88-70, in MIAA-WHAC Challenge

OLIVET, Mich. -- Behind double-doubles by seniors Nathan Jennings (Grant) and Michael McClary (Bellaire), the Olivet College men's basketball team defeated University of Mich.-Dearborn, 88-70, tonight in the second game of the 2010 MIAA-WHAC Challenge at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. In the first game, MIAA foe Alma College beat Madonna University, 88-69. For the second day of the challenge, the opponents will swap, with Mich.-Dearborn playing Alma at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Comets versus Madonna.

Against Mich.-Dearborn, Olivet led by as many as 17 points on two occasions in the first half. The last time was at halftime, 41-24. The Comets scored the first basket of the second half, which gave them their largest lead of the game. Olivet's lead stayed more than 10 points for the rest of the game.

McClary led all scorers with 30 points and matched the challenge record with 17 rebounds for the 39th double-double of his collegiate career. Jennings finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Joe Post (Olivet) scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out seven assists and blocked two shots in 33 minutes. Senior Andre Evans (Muskegon Heights) added nine points and four assists.

For Dearborn, Myke White scored 23 points. Nicholas Packwood and Jordan Redditt were next with 16 points apiece. Brian Mills pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

Following tomorrow's game, the Comets will travel to play Anderson (Ind.) University Monday evening at 7:30 p.m.

In tonight's first game, Alma drained 16 three-pointers in the 88-69 win. Cory Schneider scored a game-high 17 points, while Sam Larson and Greg Silverthorn each scored 15. Bryant Slaughter had a team-leading 14 points for Madonna.