Men’s basketball team beaten at Hope, 84-53

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team was beaten by Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) leader Hope College 84-53 tonight at the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland. The Flying Dutchmen also entered the game ranked No. 7 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

There were eight lead changes and two tied scores in the first eight minutes and nine seconds of the game. Olivet trailed by just one point, 16-15, at the 11:51 mark. The Dutchmen then went on a 24-4 run to go up by 21 points with 2:44 left before halftime.

Colton Overway canned two free throws with three seconds showing on the clock to push Hope's lead to 43-21 at the break. The closest the Comets would get the rest of the game was 21 points twice in the first four minutes of the second half.

Junior Dakotah Ellis (Birch Run) topped Olivet with 13 points, while junior Alvino Ashley (Detroit/MLK) scored 12. Freshman Paul Lombard (New Era/Montague) had six points to go along with a team-leading eight rebounds and two blocks.

For Hope, Nate Snuggerud led all players with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. David Krombeen was next with 16 points. Nate VanArendonk grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Olivet will travel to play Calvin College Wednesday, Jan. 25. Tip-off at Van Noord Arena is 8 p.m.