Men’s basketball team falls to Hope, 99-81, in MIAA-opener

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to Hope College, 99-81, in its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) this evening at the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland.

Final Score: Hope 99, Olivet 81
Location: DeVos Fieldhouse; Holland, Michigan
Records: Hope 3-2 overall, 1-0 MIAA; Olivet 0-11 overall, 0-1 MIAA

• The Flying Dutchmen raced out to a 12-2 lead in the first two minutes and 32 seconds of the game. Hope's 24-point lead at halftime, 51-27, was its largest lead of the first 20 minutes of action.
• In the second half, the Flying Dutchmen stretched their advantage to as many as 31 points with 14:54 left. The closest the Comets would get was 13 points twice, 92-79 and 94-81.

• Senior Eddie Thigpen led all players with 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting.
• Junior Ryan Robinette had 12 points.
• Drew Moore and Chris Martin scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
• Sophomore Britton Angell and senior Delbert Redfield each recorded six rebounds.

• Tyler George and Preston Granger scored 21 points apiece.
• Evan Thomas tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds.
• Clayton Dykhouse and Jeff Bikus each netted 10 points.

• "Tonight went from being one of the most disappointing first halves, I have seen a team play to a really nice effort in the second half," said Olivet head coach Sam Hargraves. "With this current team, if we compete for 40 minutes, we have a chance every game. If we do not, we have got no chance any game. It's really that simple."

• After playing 10 of their first 11 games on the road, the Comets will now play five of their final six regular season games at home inside The Cutler Event Center. The first of those five is Thursday night against Kalamazoo College at 7 p.m.