Men’s basketball team wins 77-63 over Adrian in MIAA-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team started Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a 77-63 victory over Adrian College this evening inside the Cutler Event Center.

• Final Score: Olivet 77, Adrian 63
• Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 5-7 overall, 1-0 MIAA; Adrian 3-9 overall, 0-1 MIAA

• The Comets jumped out to a five-point lead, 8-3, at the 16:31 mark. Olivet quickly doubled its advantage after sophomore Lorris Upshaw made a three-pointer and senior Tevin Ali drained a jump shot on back-to-back possessions. The Comets' lead became 12 points, 21-9, with 13:06 left until halftime. The Bulldogs fought back to close the gap to two points twice. After the last time at 33-28, Olivet went on a 9-1 run to gain its largest lead of the half, 42-29. The Comets settled for a 46-34 score at halftime.
• In the second half, Olivet saw its advantage grew to as many as 23 points, 68-45, at the 10:16 mark. The final 14-point margin of defeat was the closest Adrian would get for the rest of the game.
• For the game, Olivet made 27-of-57 baskets (47.4 percent), including 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from behind the arc, and 15-of-25 free throws (60 percent). The Bulldogs were 25-of-63 (39.7 percent) from the floor, 5-of-21 (23.8 percent) from three-point territory and 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from the charity stripe. The Comets recorded 21 assists compared to seven for Adrian.

• Olivet had a balanced scoring attack, as four players reached double figures in the scoring column.
• Upshaw scored a team-best 16 points.
• Senior Derrick Johnson provided 13 points.
• Senior Tevin Ali and freshman Haidyn Garrison tallied 12 points, and grabbed 11 and nine rebounds, respectively.
• Senior Noah Wiswary dished out eight assists.

• De'Ovion Price netted a game-high 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting.
• Nick Seifert was next with nine points and pulled down a team-leading seven rebounds.

• Olivet hosts Hope College Saturday in the second game of a basketball doubleheader. Preceding the men's game, the Comet women play Hope at 1 p.m. The men's game will follow at approximately 3 p.m.