Men’s Basketball Team Defeats University of Michigan-Dearborn, 84-66

OLIVET, MI. -- The Olivet College men's basketball team defeated non-conference foe University of Michigan-Dearborn, 84-66, tonight at the Upton Center. With the win, the Fighting Comets have a 6-3 overall record. The Wolves' overall record drops to 5-10.

After falling behind 11-4, the Fighting Comets then went on a 19-7 run to take their biggest lead of the first half at 23-18 when freshman forward Steve Johnson (Detroit/Murray Wright High School) made two free throws with 9:57 left. Olivet led 35-31 at halftime.

Michigan-Dearborn opened the second half with a 12-4 run to take a 43-39 lead. The Comets then took the lead for good with 9:30 left when senior forward Terrance Stewart (Muskegon Heights High School) nailed a three-pointer.

Junior guard Matt Brawley (Niles High School) and freshman forward De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge High School) led the Comets with 17 points apiece. Senior forward Michael Dyson (Kalamazoo/ Loy Norrix High School) chipped in with 14 points, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line, and sophomore guard Will Lee (Lansing Everett High School) added 10 points off the bench. Johnson grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. In the game, Olivet made 21-of-24 free throws, shot 43.9 percent from the floor and forced 31 turnovers.

"I am happy and pleased with our performance tonight," said sixth-year Head Coach Steve Hettinga. "Our bench gave us a nice spark and our free throw shooting was phenomenal."

Russell Kacin scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Wolves. Syneca Puryear also contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Olivet will next play on Saturday, Dec. 14 when it hosts Ferris State University in a non-league game at the Upton Center at 3:00 p.m.