UOlivet escapes Kalamazoo with 74-61 win

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The University of Olivet men's basketball team started the second half of its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schedule with a 74-61 win over Kalamazoo College today inside the Anderson Athletic Center. With the win, the Comets sweep the season series against the Hornets.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Olivet 74, Kalamazoo 61
• Location: Anderson Athletic Center; Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 6-13 overall, 4-4 MIAA; Kalamazoo 8-11 overall, 1-7 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hornets led by seven points, 18-11, at the 13:04 mark of the opening half. Over the next minute and 14 seconds, Olivet scored seven straight points to tie the game. After Kalamazoo made two free throws, sophomore Conner Schipper drained a free throw to complete an old-fashioned three-point play for the Comets' first lead in the game. The Hornets answered with a 12-5 burst to take a 32-26 lead with 5:30 left until halftime. Olivet countered with a 9-3 run to trail by a point, 36-35, at the break.
• The Hornets started the second half with a 6-0 spurt for a seven-point lead, 44-37. The Comets used a 12-4 run to regain the lead, 49-48, at the 15:04 mark. Kalamazoo scored the next four points to take the lead back, 52-49. Olivet responded with two layups and a three-pointer for a 56-52 lead. The Comets extended their lead to six points, 60-54. The teams traded 5-0 runs to keep the score at a six-point differential. The Hornets made the next basket before Olivet ended game with a 9-0 burst to post the 13-point victory.

FOR THE COMETS

• Schipper and freshman Porter Kretschman each scored 17 points.
• Junior Evan Honnen was a spark off the bench with a career-high 13 points, including a couple clutch three-pointers late in the game.
• Sophomore Nathan Richardson contributed nine points.
• Schipper grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds and blocked four shots.
• Kretschman also had six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

UP NEXT

• The Comets are on the road Wednesday, February 5, to play Adrian College. Tip-off from the Merillat Sports & Fitness Center is 7:30 p.m.