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The University of Olivet

Men’s basketball team loses to Kalamazoo, 83-71

The Olivet College men’s basketball team let a halftime lead slip away, as Kalamazoo College came from behind to beat Olivet, 83-71, this afternoon at the Anderson Athletic Center in Kalamazoo.

Box Score

Team Stats

Men’s basketball team loses to Kalamazoo, 83-71
January 5, 2013

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team let a halftime lead slip away, as Kalamazoo College came from behind to beat Olivet, 83-71, this afternoon at the Anderson Athletic Center in Kalamazoo.

In the first half, the Comets built an 11-point lead, 25-14, at just before the midway point. The Hornets came back with a 20-9 run to knot the score at 34-34. They then took their first lead, 36-34, before Olivet scored five straight points to regain the lead, 39-36.

After a 41-41 deadlock, Eric Fishman put Kalamazoo ahead 43-41 with 42 seconds left in the half. Senior Garner Small (Schoolcraft) then nailed a three-pointer for his 25th point of the half with 26 seconds showing on the first-half clock to give the lead back to Olivet, 44-43, at intermission.

The Hornets opened the second half with a 9-0 run to go up 52-44 with 16:09 left in the game. Kalamazoo then stretched its lead to as many as 14 points two times, with the last time being 76-62 at the 6:14 mark. Olivet came back with a 6-0 run to trim its deficit down to eight points, 76-68, but it would not get any closer for the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets shot a dismal 38 percent (27-of-71) to 52.6 percent (30-of-57) for the Hornets. Olivet did make five more three-pointers, but Kalamazoo made 11 more free throws. The Hornets also won the rebounding battle, 44-29.

Small needed 11 baskets, including five from behind the arc, and four free throws for his game-high 31 points. Small also posted game-highs in rebounds (eight) and assists (seven). Sophomore Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) was the only other Comet in double figures with 11 points.

Four Kalamazoo starters reached double digits in the scoring column, led by Mark Ghafari's 21 points. Eric Fishman had 19, followed by Aaron Schoenfeldt and Grant Carey with 15 and 11, respectively.  Schoenfeldt grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

The Comets return to the court next Wednesday, Jan. 9, when they travel to play Alma College. Tip-off at the Art Smith Arena is 8 p.m. It is the second game of a doubleheader in Alma, as the Olivet women will also play the Scots at 6 p.m.