Men’s basketball team lets second-half lead evaporate in 73-63 loss to Albion

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team let a second-half lead evaporate, as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College came from behind to beat the Comets, 73-63, tonight inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

There were four tied scores and nine lead changes in the first 12 minutes and 18 seconds of the game. After the Britons led, 20-19, the Comets went on a 9-0 run to take the largest lead for either team, 28-20, with 5:11 left before halftime. Albion closed the half with a 9-3 scoring spurt to trail by just points, 31-29, at the break.

In the second half, Olivet stretched its lead to as many as six points, 48-42, after junior Blake Krum (Schoolcraft) made a three-pointer at the 13:24 mark. The Britons chipped away at their deficit by scoring eight of the next 10 points to force a 50-50 tie at the midway point of the half.

The Comets grabbed the lead back on a pair of free throws by sophomore T.J. Vondette (Hemlock) and continued to lead until Albion knotted the score one more time at 56-56. The Britons scored the next basket and then took a four-point lead, 61-57.

Olivet responded with a 6-1 run to regain the lead, 63-62, with 3:20 left in the game. Albion scored the final 11 points of the game to earn the hard-fought win.

In the loss, Krum posted the second double-double of his career with a game-22 points to go along with team-high 11 rebounds. Freshman R.J. Haas (Albion) was the only other Comet in double figures with 10 points.

Three Briton starters reached double digits in the scoring column, led by Jordan Herron's 18 points. He also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for his league-leading sixth double-double of the season. Carter Elliott and Lawrence Ridgell each scored 13 points.

The Comets (3-12, 1-3 MIAA) stay home to face Calvin College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.