Men’s basketball team beaten by Albion, 97-55

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team was beaten by defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) champion Albion College, 97-55, today at the Cutler Event Center.

Final Score: Albion 97, Olivet 55
Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
Records: Albion 7-2 overall, 4-0 MIAA; Olivet 1-14 overall, 0-4 MIAA

• The Britons raced out to a 14-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Seniors Delbert Redfield and Eddie Thigpen drained back-to-back three-pointers to make the score 14-10 at the 13:46 mark. The Comets were not able to get any closer, as Albion led by 20 points, 45-25, at halftime.
• A pair of baskets from behind the arc by sophomore Noah Wiswary and a fast-break layup by Thigpen trimmed Olivet's deficit down to 14 points, 49-35, three minutes into the second half. The Britons answered with back-to-back triples to push their advantage back to 20 points. Albion's lead would stay more than 20 points for the rest of the game.

• Thigpen was the lone Olivet player in double figures, as he scored 11 points.
• Sophomore Drew Moore was next with eight points.
• Moore and Thigpen each grabbed six rebounds.

• Four players scored in double digits, led by Cortez Garland's 18.
• Juwan Perry had 17 points
• Caden Ebling tallied 15 points and eight rebounds.
• Chance Crittenden made all four of his shots from three-point territory and two free throws for 14 points.
• Justin McAbee pulled down nine rebounds.

• "None of us really could have predicted how we would play against Spring Arbor on Wednesday, and no one knew how we would come out today," said Olivet head coach Sam Hargraves. "You really do see a Jekyll and Hyde type of personality with this team. Becoming a winning, consistent program takes a lot of time, talent and toughness. Today it looked like we clearly need more time, and we lack the other. Maybe this feeling will motivate us for the next opportunity."

• Olivet concludes the regular season part of its schedule next week. On Wednesday, the Comets travel to play Alma College at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, they host Calvin University at 3 p.m.