Men’s basketball team lets lead slip away in 95-87 loss against Hiram

ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Olivet College men's basketball team let a second-half lead slip away in a 95-87 against Hiram (Ohio) College in a first round game of the University of Mount Union (Ohio) M-Club Classic in Alliance, Ohio. The Comets will play the host Purple Raiders in the second round game tomorrow, starting at 3 p.m.

The Terriers raced out to a 10-point lead two times, with the last time being 13-3 at the 17:28 mark. Olivet came back and took its first lead of the game, 25-24, with 11:53 left in the half. The Comets stretched their lead to as many as 11 points on two occasions, including 47-36 at the 5:43 mark. Over the next four minutes, Hiram responded with a 12-0 scoring run to take a 48-47 lead. Two free throws by freshman R.J. Haas (Albion) put Olivet ahead by one, 49-48, at halftime.

Neither team led by more than two points in the first seven minutes and 14 seconds of the second half. The Comets eventually held a seven-point lead, 75-68, with 10:18 left in the game when freshman Tommy Cerven (Decatur) made a three-pointer. The Terriers chipped away at their deficit and tied the game at 77-77 with 6:54 remaining. Hiram scored the next basket and never trailed for the rest of the game.

Sophomore T.J. Vondette (Hemlock) paced the Comets with 26 points, with five baskets from behind the arc. He also grabbed 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Freshman Kevin Woodson (Lambertville/Monroe St. Mary Catholic) contributed 19 points. Junior Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) and Cerven finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Junior Jordan Union (Jackson) dished out six of 22 Olivet assists.

Aaron Stefanov was one of five Hiram players in double figures, scoring a game-high 27 points. Joining him in double digits were Roy Gaston (17), Josh Edmondson (16), Chris Zurowski (14) and Kyle Deckerd (10). Edmondson also grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds.