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The University of Olivet

Men’s basketball team beats Finlandia, 105-97

The Olivet College men’s basketball team reached the century mark in points for the first time since Feb. 16, 2005, and the Comets beat Finlandia University 105-97 tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Box Score

Team Stats

Men’s basketball team beats Finlandia, 105-97
December 20, 2011

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team reached the century mark in points for the first time since Feb. 16, 2005, and the Comets beat Finlandia University 105-97 tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Olivet built a 14-point lead, 26-12, with 11:26 left in the first half when senior Jaren Edsall (Whitehall) made a 3-pointer. The Lions came back to tie the game at 33-33 at the 6:31 mark. The Comets answered with nine straight points and that margin stayed the same at halftime, 51-42.

In the second half, Olivet extended its lead to 15 points before Finlandia cut its deficit down to eight points on three occasions. The last time was 73-65, with 9:40 left. The Comets back with a 12-2 to take their largest lead of the game, 85-67. Olivet held onto the lead and the Lions got no closer than eight points for the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets shot a season-best 52.4 percent (43-of-82), including 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from behind the arc. Finlandia shot 41.4 percent (36-of-87), but were 13-of-48 (27.1 percent) from 3-point territory. Olivet committed seven less turnovers, 17-24, and blocked nine more shots, 11-2.

Junior Alvino Ashley (Detroit/MLK) was one of five Comets in double figures. He came off the bench to score a team-leading 26 points, grab 10 rebounds, block five shots and dish out six assists. Edsall and freshman Marquis Childers (Muskegon Heights) each scored 20 points. Senior Eric Mack (Eastpointe/Roseville) and junior Matt El (Allegan) contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.

For Finlandia, Anthony Grandberry led all players with 28 points. Keith Arnold was next with 17, while Darryl Brown and Jonathon Moore each had 10.

Olivet is now idle until Thursday and Friday, Dec. 29-30, when they participate in the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. The Comets will play Marian (Ind.) University on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games are scheduled for the next day at 2:15 and 7 p.m., respectively.

NOTE: The Comets have scored 100 or more points in 40 career games, and the 105 points tonight ties for the 22nd most.