UOlivet comes from behind to beat Kalamazoo, 82-75

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The University of Olivet men's basketball team rallied from a late deficit to beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Kalamazoo College, 82-75, today on Tish Loveless Court and inside the Anderson Athletic Center. The Comets have now won seven straight games.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Olivet 82, Kalamazoo 75
• Location: Anderson Athletic Center; Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 10-9 overall, 7-1 MIAA; Kalamazoo 3-16 overall, 0-8 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first half, the Hornets built an eight-point cushion at the 6:28 mark. Olivet used back-to-back three-pointers by freshman Sean Shenker and junior Nathan Richardson to trim its deficit down to two points. Kalamazoo pushed its advantage back to five points. The Comets closed the gap to one point, 32-31, with 3:07 left until halftime. The Hornets made two baskets to increase their lead back to five pointers. Junior Porter Kretschman drained two free throws to make the score 36-33 at the break.
• Early in the second half, Kalamazoo took its largest lead, 44-38. Olivet fought back to tie the game, 48-48. The Comets tied the game three more times before the Hornets seized a three-point lead, 66-63, with 5:24 left in the game. Sophomore Sam Howard split two free throws. After missing the second, Shenker grabbed the offensive rebound and Howard drained a three-pointer to make the score 67-66.
• Kalamazoo regained the lead with a jump shot. Sophomore Mike Okello made two free throws to put Olivet back on top. The Comets did not relinquish their lead for the rest of the game.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the game, Olivet posted a 55.1 field goal percentage.
• Richardson scored a team-leading 18 points, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists.
• Shenker contributed 17 points.
• Howard had 11 points.
• Kretschman netted 10 points and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.

COACH'S QUOTE

"This was a tough game today, and we knew it would be," said Olivet head coach Sam Hargraves. "Kalamazoo has a fighting spirit, especially in their gym. They were ready to play today. We did not take them lightly. There just was a lot of pressure on our guys today, and every time we win, that pressure is going to grow more regardless of who we're playing or where. I am proud of how we played the last three to four minutes of the game. Guys stepped up and made some big plays on both ends to survive and get out of there with a win."

UP NEXT

• Olivet hosts Alma College next Wednesday, February 4, at 7:30 p.m.