Men’s basketball team loses 67-64 in double overtime to Adrian

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College men's basketball team lost a 67-64 double overtime heartbreaker to Adrian College in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament this evening at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. With the loss, Olivet ends its season with a 13-13 overall record.

In the first half, the Bulldogs led by as many as nine points, 17-8, at the 7:10 mark. Olivet fought back and trailed by only four points, 19-15, at halftime. The Comets opened the second half with a 15-5 run to go up by six points, 30-24, with 13:29 left in regulation. Adrian scored four straight points before Olivet its own 4-0 run to regain a six-point lead, 34-28.

The Comets continued to lead until the Bulldogs tied the game three times at 36-36, 38-38 and 42-42. Olivet went up by three points, 45-42, after senior Michael McClary (Bellaire) made a tip-in basket and free throw for a three-point play. Adrian grabbed the lead back on a jumper and layup. A 3-pointer by senior Joe Post (Olivet) put the Comets ahead, 48-46. The Bulldogs answered with a three-point play by Jovon Mosley to take a 49-48 lead.

McClary made two free throws to give Olivet the lead back at 50-49, with exactly one minute left in regulation. Wesley Reed hit one free throw to tie the game at 50-50 with 26 seconds left and send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime period, the teams traded the first two baskets. Cody Barnes made a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 55-52 lead. After McClary answered with a jumper to cut Olivet's deficit down to one point, 55-54, Reed made two free throws put Adrian back ahead by three, 57-54. The Comets missed their first attempt to tie the game, but Post grabbed the offensive rebound, dribbled and drained a 3-point basket as the horn sounded to send the game to another extra period.

In the second overtime period, the Bulldogs took the lead on a pair of free throws by Dennis Mason. Olivet knotted the score at 59-59 on a Post layup. Adrian scored the next point to take the lead and did not relinquish for the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets made 23 baskets, including six 3-pointers, to 17 and three for Adrian. Olivet also out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 38-33. The difference in the game was Adrian was 30-of-42 at the foul line compared to 12-of-18 for the Comets.

McClary led Olivet with 25 points and 13 rebounds for the 50th double-double of his career. Post was the only other Comet in double figures with 13 points.

Adrian placed four players in double figures, led by Mosley's 25. Sean Gallant was next with 14, followed by Delano Collins and Reed with 13 and 10, respectively. Mosley also pulled down 11 rebounds.

NOTE: McClary ends his outstanding four-year career at Olivet with 1,834 points and 1,036 rebounds.