UOlivet upended at Otterbein, 76-64

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The University of Olivet men's basketball team came up short against Otterbein University, 76-64, in the opening round of the Smokey Ballenger Classic today at the Rike Center.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Otterbein 76, Olivet 64
• Location: Rike Center; Westerville, Ohio
• Records: Olivet 2-8 overall, Otterbein 6-3 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first 13 minutes of the game, the Cardinals led by three points on multiple occasions. After the seventh time at 22-19, the Comets scored five straight points to take a two-point lead. Otterbein tied the game, 24-24, before an Olivet basket made the score 26-24 at the 4:14 mark. The Cardinals ended the half with a 13-4 run for a seven-point cushion, 37-30, at the halftime break.
• Otterbein opened the second half by making back-to-back three-pointers. The Cardinals' lead stayed in double figures until the 13:26 mark when sophomore Brayden Wine made a free throw to complete an old-fashioned three-point play to make the score 53-44. Otterbein pushed its lead back to 12 points, 58-46. The Comets answered with a 14-6 run to trim their deficit down to four points, 64-60, with 5:23 remaining in the game. Olivet did not get any closer for the rest of the contest.
• For the game, the Comets made one more basket than the Cardinals. The differences in the game were Otterbein drained 10 three-pointers and 12 free throws compared to three triples and five free throws for Olivet.

FOR THE COMETS

• Sophomore Conner Schipper led all players with 23 points.
• Sophomore Nathan Richardson joined him in double figures with 12 points.
• Freshman Porter Kretschman dished out a team-leading five assists.
• Sophomore Lee Hardy grabbed six rebounds.

UP NEXT

• For the second round of the classic, the Comets face Denison (Ohio) University tomorrow evening at 6 p.m.