UOlivet defeats Albion, 69-59, in MIAA-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet men's basketball team started Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a 69-59 win over Albion College tonight at the Cutler Event Center.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Olivet 69, Albion 59
• Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 4-8 overall, 1-0 MIAA; Albion 7-5 overall, 0-1 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets scored the first five points of the game. The Britons answered with an 8-0 run. The teams traded points to create five lead changes. A jumper by freshman Sean Shenker put Olivet ahead, 14-13. That basket ignited a 6-0 run to put the Comets up seven points.
• Albion closed the gap to two points, 22-20, at the 6:44 mark. Olivet went on a 12-2 run to take a 34-22 lead with 52 seconds left until halftime. After the Britons made two free throws, a last-second jumper by sophomore Sam Howard at the buzzer put the Comets ahead, 36-24, at halftime.
• Olivet scored the first basket of the second half for its largest lead of the game. Albion cut its deficit down to six points twice in the second half but failed to get any closer.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the game, Olivet posted a 52.7 field goal percentage (29-of-55).
• Four players scored in double figures, led by junior Nathan Richardson's 13 points.
• Junior Conner Schipper contributed 12 points.
• Sophomore Mike Okello added 11 points.
• Sophomore Porter Kretschman recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
• As a team, the Comets blocked 12 shots, including six for Schipper.

COACH'S QUOTE

"Almost always, the first MIAA game every season is going to be a battle," said Olivet head men's basketball coach Sam Hargraves. "Obviously we're happy with the win, but we've got a long way to go to get to the level we want to."

UP NEXT

• The Comets host Hope College on Saturday at 3 p.m.