Men’s basketball team opens MIAA play with 92-85 win at Adrian

ADRIAN, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team started the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) portion of its schedule with a 92-85 win over Adrian College this evening at the Merillat Center.

Final Score: Olivet 92, Adrian 85
Location: Merillat Center; Adrian, Michigan
Records: Adrian 1-11 overall, 0-1 MIAA; Olivet 4-8 overall, 1-0 MIAA

• The Bulldogs led by six points, 10-4, at the 16:52 mark of the opening half. The Comets scored 12 straight points over the next three minutes and 26 seconds to gain their own six-point cushion, 16-10. Olivet extended its lead to 11 points, 25-14, with 9:46 left before halftime. Adrian chipped away at its deficit and cut it to four points on three occasions. After the last time at 34-30, five Comet points put them ahead 39-30. A three-pointer for the Bulldogs right before the halftime buzzer made the score 39-33.
• The Olivet advantage grew to 12 points twice in the first two minutes and six seconds of the second half. Adrian battled back to close the gap to three points, 51-48, at the 15:05 mark. A 10-2 run, capped by an old-fashioned three-point play by senior Dane Vos, pushed the Comet lead back to 11 points, 61-50. The Bulldogs sank a three-pointer to make the score 61-53. Olivet answered with a 10-2 spurt to take its largest lead of the game, 71-55, with 7:15 remaining. An Adrian triple in the final seconds of the game created the final seven-point margin.
• For the game, the Comets posted a 52.4 field goal percentage (33-of-63) compared to 39.1 percentage (34-of-87) for the Bulldogs. Adrian made eight more baskets from distance, but the Comets were 21-of-28 (75 percent) at the free throw line to 4-of-8 (50 percent) for the Bulldogs.

• All five Olivet starters scored in double figures and combined to play 190 of 200 possible minutes.
• Freshman Patrick Hollis finished with a double-double, 24 points and 18 rebounds.
• Sophomore Ryan Bart scored 22 points. He made his first six baskets, including five from behind the arc.
• Junior Noah Wiswary contributed 17 points, including 13-of-14 shooting from the charity stripe. He dished out nine assists.
• Vos nearly had a triple-double, as he had 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
• Senior Tevin Ali tallied 11 points and eight rebounds.

• "I couldn't be prouder of the effort and our ability to finish the game tonight," said Olivet head men's basketball coach Sam Hargraves. "We've been close with this short-handed team the last couple games. It was to break through and get a win, and Adrian didn't make it easy on us. They just did not quit.
• "We really played unselfish, found open people and stuck to the game plan. We've really had to really work, in a short amount of time, adjusting how we play with all the guys being out. Their attitudes have remained positive and upbeat."

• Hollis' 18 rebounds are tied for the second-most in a game since the 2002-03 season.
• Wiswary's 13 made free throws are tied for the third-most in a game since the 2002-03 season.

• De'Ovion Price led all players with 28 points.
• Phariz Watkins scored 15 points.
• Connor Pelham had 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
• Andrew Larson registered 10 points.
• Alen Paul recorded 14 assists.

• Olivet is scheduled to play Saturday at Hope College. Tip-off at the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland is 3 p.m. The game is a part of a doubleheader, as the Comet women will play the Hope women at approximately 5 p.m.