Men’s basketball: Comets drop 81-57 decision to Elmhurst

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team dropped an 81-57 decision to Elmhurst (Ill.) College tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. With the win, the Bluejays stay perfect on the season with a 5-0 record, while the Comets' record slips to 1-4 with the loss.

The first part of the game was a defensive battle, as Olivet had a 5-4 lead at the 15:46 mark. Eighteen seconds later, Elmhurst scored a basket to take a lead, and it did not give up the lead for the rest of the game. The Bluejays' 18-point lead at halftime, 43-25, tied for their largest lead of the game.

Elmhurst extended its lead to as 21 points, 53-32, with 15:09 left in the game. The Comets battled back with a 9-0 run to cut its deficit down to 12 points, 53-41, at the 13:15 mark. The Bluejays came back with a 10-5 run to stretch their lead back to 17 points, 63-46.

Olivet used a 5-0 run to trim the Elmhurst lead back to 12 points, 63-51, with seven minutes remaining. The Comets would not get any closer, as the winning margin was the largest lead for the Bluejays.

Coming off the bench, junior forward Anthony Easter scored a team-high 12 points. Senior DeOndre Callahan added 10 points. Senior Jordan Union scored nine points and dished out five of Olivet's 13 assists. Sophomore Adam Rayner pulled down a team-high five rebounds.

Erik Crittenden posted a double-double, 21 points and 10 rebounds, to lead Elmhurst. Nathan Rodgers and Will Nixon contributed 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Comets are now idle until Saturday, Dec. 13, when they host Indiana Wesleyan University at 3 p.m.