Men's basketball team falls to Adrian, 88-67, in MIAA Tournament

The Olivet College men's basketball team concluded its season tonight with an 88-67 loss at Adrian College in the first round of the 2004 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament at the Merillat Center in Adrian. The Bulldogs advance to play at top-seed Hope College in the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8:15 p.m.

In the first half, the Fighting Comets fell behind by as many as 26 points on two occasions with the last time being, 39-13, at the 6:22 mark. Olivet rallied to trail by 14 points, 47-33, at halftime.

The Comets trimmed their deficit down to three points, 55-52, with 9:43 left in the game when sophomore forward De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge High School) nailed a jump shot. Adrian then scored the next seven points with a free throw and back-to-back three-pointers by Billy Collins to extend its lead to double digits. Pruitt made a three-pointer to cut the deficit back to five points, 66-61, at the 5:58 mark. The Bulldogs outscored Olivet, 22-6, in the final 5:58 for the victory.

Pruitt led the Comets with 20 points. Sophomore forward Steve Johnson (Detroit/Murray Wright High School) came off the bench to score 18 points and grab a team-best six rebounds in 26 minutes. Senior guard Matt Brawley (Niles High School) chipped in with 13 points.

Billy Collins paced five Bulldogs in double figures with a game-high 26 points. Brian Schaefer and Mike Lewis added 15 points apiece, followed by Mark Bohlen with 13 and Adam Novak with 10. Novak also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.