Men’s basketball team makes 16 triples but falls to Trine, 81-77

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Olivet College men's basketball team made a season-high 16 three-pointers but fell to Trine (Ind.) University, 81-77, tonight at Hershey Hall in Angola, Ind.

The Thunder led by eight points, 11-3, with 15:49 left in the first half. Olivet came back and took a four-point lead, 23-19, after freshman Jeff Cain (Lansing/Sexton) and senior Garner Small (Schoolcraft) nailed back-to-back three-pointers, at the 7:14 mark. Trine then went on a 16-2 run over the next five minutes to take either team's largest lead, 35-25. The Thunder settled for a 37-30 lead at halftime.

Early in the second half, Trine pushed its lead back to 10 points twice, with the last time being 42-32. The Comets scored seven straight points to trail by three, 42-39, with 16:59 left in the game. The Thunder used another run to take a nine-point lead, 52-43.

Olivet answered with an 11-3 scoring spurt to make the score 55-54. The Comets were never able to get any closer for the rest of the game. In the closing seconds of the game, Olivet was down by only two points, 79-77, and had the ball after stealing an inbounds pass. After the Comets missed a shot, they were forced to foul with Trine making two free throws.

For the game, both teams made 27 baskets. Olivet had 16 threes to two for the Thunder. The difference in the game was Trine made 18 more free throws, 25-7.

Senior Dakotah Ellis (Birch Run) came off the bench to score 18 points, all on three-pointers, for the Comets. Small recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds. He also had six assists. Sophomore Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) scored 15 points.

For the Thunder, Scott Rogers led all scorers with 23 points.

The Comets will host Hope College Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the second game of a basketball doubleheader at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. Prior to the men's game, the Olivet women will play Saint Mary's (Ind.) College at 3 p.m.