Men's basketball team upsets Hope, 67-65

The men's basketball team rallied from a 13-point deficit in the first half to upset Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Hope College, 67-65, this afternoon at the Upton Center in Olivet. With the win, Olivet snaps Hope's five-game winning streak.

Two free throws by Andy Phillips at the 6:22 mark of the first half gave the Flying Dutchmen (12-11, 8-4 MIAA) a 29-16 lead. In a span of three minutes and 19 seconds, the Fighting Comets (10-13, 4-8 MIAA) tied the score with a 13-0 run, capped off by a layup by freshman Jeff Cooper (Dowagiac/Union). Phillips ended the Olivet run with a basket, and Hope led 31-29 at halftime.

The Dutchmen came out of the locker rooms and led by four points, 37-33, with just over 18 minutes left. The Comets answered and took a five-point lead, 49-44, at the 11:16 mark. Hope responded and tied the game, 51-51. The last tied scored was 55-55 with 5:49 remaining. After that tie, Olivet went on a 10-3 run to take a 65-58 lead.

The Dutchmen then cut their deficit to three points at the 1:02 mark. Two clutch free throws by junior Derek Kurtz (Jonesville/Hillsdale) with 33 seconds left pushed Olivet's lead back out to five points. A Hope three-pointer made the score 67-65. After Olivet missed a chance to seal the game at the free throw line, the Dutchmen also missed two three-pointers in the final 16 seconds.

Senior Ronnie Pearson (Holly) tallied a game-high 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and five steals to lead the Comets. Kurtz joined him in double figures with 13 points, including a perfect five-of-five from the free throw line. Sophomore Jerame File (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) had nine points.

Phillips was the only Hope player in double digits with a game-high 24 points. Kyle Kleersnyder grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

Olivet concludes its 2004-05 regular season next week. On Wednesday, the Comets host Tri-State (Ind.) University at 7:30 p.m. and then travel to play Adrian College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.