Men’s basketball team falls to Trine in final seconds, 79-77

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College men's basketball team fell to Trine (Ind.) University, 79-77, today at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. Trine's Ian Jackson made a layup with three seconds left to lift the Thunder to the victory. With the loss, the Comets slip into a tie for fourth-place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings.

Olivet led 2-0, 4-2 and 6-5 in the early parts of the game. Trine never led by more than five points in the first half with the Comets forcing five tied scores. The Thunder took a 43-41 lead into the halftime break.

In the second half, Trine built a pair of seven-point leads with the last time being 57-50 with 11:31 left in the game. Olivet battled back with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 57-57. Jackson gave the lead back to the Thunder with two free throws. The Comets tied the game, again, on a basket and took their first lead of the half, 62-59, after senior Michael McClary (Bellaire) made a free throw to complete a three-point play.

Olivet continued to lead until a jumper by Jackson put Trine ahead 70-69. The Comets answered with two free throws by junior Eric Mack (Eastpointe/Roseville). Scott Rogers then scored five straight points for the Thunder and give them a 75-71 lead. Mack drove the lane for two layups to knot the score at 75-75.

After Jackson made a layup with 43 seconds left, McClary tied the game for the 13th time by draining a jumper with 19 seconds left. Trine called a timeout and Jackson made the winning layup with three ticks left on the clock. The Comets' long inbounds pass was broken up, allowing the Thunder to escape with the win.

For the game, Trine shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the floor, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc, and made 21-of-30 free throws. Olivet made 26-of-65 (40 percent) baskets, including 2-of-5 triples, and was 23-of-26 from the charity stripe.

McClary was one of three players in double figures, as he scored 26 points. Mack posted a double-double, 13 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Nathan Jennings (Grant) also had a double-double, 12 points and game-high 12 rebounds. Senior Joe Post (Olivet) dished out six assists.

The Thunder were led by Jackson and Rogers, who combined for 59 points. Jackson led all scorers with 34 points, and Rogers had 25. Off the bench, Neil Smith scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

The Comets will wrap-up the regular season portion of their schedule next week. On Wednesday, they will make the trip to play Kalamazoo College at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, they host Alma College at 3 p.m. At halftime of Saturday's game, Olivet will recognize the 1971, 1972 and 1973 MIAA champion men's basketball teams.