Men’s basketball team loses to Tri-State, 77-75

The Olivet College men's basketball team dropped a 77-75 decision to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Tri-State (Ind.) University this afternoon at Hershey Hall in Angola. Derrick Graham made a layup with three seconds left for the Thunder (11-10, 6-4 MIAA) victory. The Comets (6-15, 2-8 MIAA) missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Tri-State held an eight-point lead, 40-32, with 1:21 left before halftime. Olivet ended the half with a 7-2 run to trail by three points, 42-39, at intermission. In the second half, the Comets came out and led by four points on two occasions. The last time was 59-55 at the 10:39 mark.

The Thunder responded and went up by five points with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Before Graham's winning shot, Olivet had tied the game with 23 seconds left.

Senior Derek Kurtz (Hillsdale/Jonesville) led the Comets with 18 points and seven rebounds. Senior Gerald Dozie (Detroit/Southeastern) scored 14 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. Senior De'Andre Clement (Saginaw) contributed 13 points.

Derrick Graham and Tony Benford came off the bench to score 19 and 13 points, respectively, for Tri-State. Graham pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

Olivet is back in action Wednesday, Feb. 8, when it hosts Adrian College in the second game of women's/men's basketball doubleheader. The Comet women will play Hope College at 6 p.m., followed by the men's game at approximately 8 p.m.