Men’s basketball team opens MIAA play with 80-61 loss at Alma

The Olivet College men's basketball team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with an 80-61 loss tonight at Alma College.

In the first half, the Scots (8-4, 1-0 MIAA) led by as many as nine points at halftime. Alma scored the 12 of the first 15 points of the second half to take a 48-30 lead. The Comets (4-8, 0-1 MIAA) answered with a 19-2 run to trim their deficit to a point, 50-49. The Scots pushed their lead back out to double figures with three three-pointers and a tip-in basket. Alma's lead remained more than 10 points for the rest of the game.

For Olivet, sophomore Jeff Cooper (Dowagiac) came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points. Senior Gerald Dozie (Detroit/Southeastern) chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds. Senior Steve Johnson (Detroit/Murray Wright) contributed 15 points.

Alma, who shot 55.2 percent from the floor, was led by Mike Murphy with 22 points. Fred Anthony and Cory Massey added 17 and 12 points, respectively. Anthony grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

The Comets are next in action Saturday, Jan. 7, when they host preseason MIAA favorite Hope College at the Upton Center at 3 p.m. Last year, Olivet beat the Flying Dutchmen, 67-65, in Olivet.