Men’s basketball team defeated by Albion, 71-58

ALBION, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team started the second half of its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schedule with a 71-58 loss to Albion College this afternoon at Kresge Gymnasium in Albion.

The Britons led by as many as 12 points, 23-11, at the 7:34 mark of the first half. Albion continued to lead by double digits, 32-21, with 4:06 left before the break. Olivet scored the last seven points of the half to trail by only four points, 32-28, at intermission.

The Comets opened the second half 12-2 run to take a 40-34 lead. Olivet continued to lead 44-40 until the Britons went on a 13-2 scoring spurt to take a seven-point lead, 53-46, at the 9:44 mark. The Comets got two free throws to trail by five, 53-48, but they would not get any closer the rest of the game.

For the game, Olivet shot only 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the floor to 50.8 percent (30-of-59) for the Britons. The rest of the statistics were close, as the Comets made two more three-pointers, but Albion made one free throw. Olivet out-rebounded the Britons by one, 37-36.

Senior Dakotah Ellis (Birch Run) was one of four Comets in double figures, leading all scorers with 17 points. Senior Garner Small (Schoolcraft) and freshman T.J. Vondette (Hemlock) each scored 13, while sophomore Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) scored 12 and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

Chris Hutton paced Albion with 15 points. Eric Evans and Jordan Herron both came off the bench to provide 12 points each, as the Briton bench contributed 38 points.

The Comets will host Kalamazoo College next Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m.