UOlivet downed at No. 11 Trine, 89-55

ANGOLA, Ind. – The University of Olivet men's basketball team fell to Trine (Ind.) University, 89-55, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest today inside the MTI Center. The Thunder are the defending NCAA Division III champions and entered the game ranked No. 11 in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Trine 89, Olivet 55
• Location: MTI Center; Angola, Indiana
• Records: Olivet 8-15 overall, 6-6 MIAA; Trine 20-3 overall, 10-2 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets made the first basket of the game – a three-pointer by sophomore Nathan Richardson. Olivet stretched its lead to 8-3 before the Thunder scored eight straight points to take their first lead, 11-8. The Comets responded with a 20-9 spurt for a 28-20 lead at the 6:59 mark. Olivet led one more time by eight points, 30-22. Trine countered with a 15-0 run to go up 37-30. Two free throws by sophomore Conner Schipper made the score 37-32 at halftime. The 34-point margin of victory was the Thunder's largest lead of the game.

FOR THE COMETS

• Richardson led Olivet with 19 points and seven rebounds.
• Schipper contributed 15 points and four blocked shots.
• Sophomore Porter Kretschman had six rebounds.

UP NEXT

• OIivet hosts Hope College next Wednesday, February 19. Tip-off from the Cutler Event Center will be approximately 8 p.m. Preceding the men's game, the Comet women will play Trine at 6 p.m.