Pruitt nails three-pointer to give men's basketball team a 61-59 win over Alma

Junior De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge) nailed a three-pointer from the left baseline with 4.6 seconds remaining to give the men's basketball team a 61-59 victory over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Alma College this afternoon at the Upton Center in Olivet.

The Fighting Comets (9-12, 3-7 MIAA) jumped out to a 15-5 lead at the 14:28 mark when Pruitt made a free throw to complete a three-point play. The Scots (10-10, 5-5 MIAA) then used a 14-4 run to tie the score at 19-19 with 10:18 remaining in the first half. Olivet answered with a 12-2 run to take another 10-point lead, 31-21. At halftime, the Comets had a 33-24 lead.

In the second half, Alma took its first lead since early in the game after AJ Jones made a three-pointer at the 8:37 mark. The two teams traded baskets and forced five ties over the next seven minutes, 27 seconds. The last tie was 58-58 with 1:10 remaining. After that, Mark Barnes made one-of-two free throws to give Alma a 59-59 lead with 39 seconds left. Olivet set-up for its final shot and sophomore Jerame File (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) found Pruitt open for the game-winning shot. After calling a timeout, Alma missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

File led the Comets with 16 points, five assists and zero turnovers in 33 minutes. Pruitt and junior Steve Johnson (Detroit/Murray Wright) contributed 12 points apiece while senior Ronnie Pearson (Holly) chipped in with 11 points. Pruitt also grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

Jones had a game-high 23 points to lead the Scots. Carl Hill and Barnes had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Barnes and Issac Smith pulled down five rebounds apiece.

The Comets are next in action Wednesday, Feb. 9 when they travel to Grand Rapids to play Calvin College at 7:30 p.m.