Men's basketball team loses to Saginaw Valley, 81-67

Freshman Andy Sierminski (Jackson/Lumen Christi) posted his first collegiate double-double, 15 points and 11 rebounds, as the Olivet College men's basketball team fell to NCAA Division II foe Saginaw Valley State University, 81-67, tonight at the Upton Center in Olivet.

Sierminski made five-of-13 field goals, including four-of-nine three-pointers. Ten of his rebounds were off the defensive glass. Joining Sierminski in double figures was freshman Joel Kerns (North Judson, Ind.) and junior Brandon Way (Detroit/ Southwestern) with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Way also dished out a team-high five assists.

In the first half, the Cardinals (2-0) jumped out to a 14-2 lead at the 16:57 mark. The Comets (1-2) battled back and took their first lead of the game, 22-21, on a three-pointer by Way with just over nine minutes remaining in the half. Over the next 7 ½ minutes, neither team led by more than three points until Saginaw took a 41-37 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Olivet tied the game at 43-43. Mike Zuiderveen scored the next points for the Cardinals, and they did not relinquish their lead for the remainder of the game.

Lawrence Ross led Saginaw with a game-high 25 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Zuiderveen contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Comets are back in action Saturday, Nov. 25, when they travel to play Baldwin-Wallace College. Tip-off from the Urpsprung Gymnasium in Berea, Ohio, is 3 p.m.