Men's basketball team defeats Kalamazoo, 52-50

The Olivet College men's basketball team defeated Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Kalamazoo College, 52-50, tonight at the Anderson Athletic Center in Kalamazoo. The Fighting Comets have now won eight of their last nine games dating back to Dec. 2.

The Hornets (5-8, 1-1 MIAA) took a 16-15 lead at the 9:29 mark of the first half. Olivet (8-5, 2-0 MIAA) fought back with a 9-2 run to take its biggest lead of the half when back-up guard Richard Britton (Olivet High School) made a layup with 5:38 remaining. Kalamazoo scored the last eight points of the half to hold a 26-24 halftime lead.

There were six lead changes and in the first 15 minutes of the second half. The Hornets built a six-point lead, 45-39, with 4:55 left in the game. The Comets answered with a 7-0 to take the lead, and never relinquished the lead for the rest of the contest.

Kalamazoo had a chance to tie the game twice in the last minute, but missed a free throw each time. The Hornets missed a game-tying jump shot with about five seconds left.

Olivet used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Kalamazoo. Ten different players scored at least one point. Sophomore center Derek Cox (Niles High School) was the only player in double figures with 14 points on six-of-nine shooting from the floor. Junior forward Ronnie Pearson (Holly High School) and freshman center Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School) contributed eight and six points, respectively.

Sophomore forward De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge High School) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Storey had two blocks.

Olivet will next be in action on Wednesday, Jan. 14 when it hosts Alma College. Tip-off from the Upton Center is 7:30 p.m.