By Staff
The Olivet College men's basketball team dropped a 73-72 decision to Wittenberg University of Ohio Saturday in the consolation game of the Hanover College/11th-Annual John R. Collier Tournament.
Olivet senior guard Matt Brawley, a Niles High School graduate, was selected to the all-tournament team.
After Wittenberg took a 9-8 lead, the Fighting Comets went on a 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the first half at the 12:18 mark. The Tigers responded with their own 15-0 run to lead by seven with 7:32 remaining. Olivet battled back and sophomore forward De'Andre Pruitt tied the score at 36-36 with a 3-pointer and two layups in the closing 90 seconds of the half.
The Comets opened the second half with a 5-0 run courtesy of a 3-pointer and layup by Pruitt. Wittenberg answered the Olivet run and took a seven-point lead at the 11:21 mark. Olivet stormed back to lead 55-54, and the Tigers again responded to take a 70-65 lead with 4:23 left.
The Comets cut the deficit to one point on a pair of free throws by senior point guard Travis Schellhammer with 1:42 left. Following two missed free throws by Wittenberg, junior Thad Mitchner made a jump shot for a 72-71 Olivet lead. The Tigers nailed the game-winning basket with eight seconds left. A 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short for the Comets.
Pruitt led three Comet players in double figures with 19 points. Brawley contributed 16 points, and sophomore center Derek Cox, also a Niles graduate, chipped in with 10. Cox grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Schellhammer was credited with a team-best six assists.
Olivet is next in action on Tuesday when it hosts Madonna University in its home opener at the Upton Center at 7:30 p.m.
Wittenberg….73
Olivet………….72
Wittenberg: Peter Walker 5 10-12 20, Daniel Russ 4 2-4 10, Kenny Molz 2 0-0 6, Rod Emmons 2 3-6 7, Andy Bucheit 2 2-2 8, Patrick Denbow 0 0-0 0, Billy Bowen 1 0-0 2, Phil Steffes 0 0-0 0, Kenny Brady 6 5-5 18, Jack Hemenway 0 2-2 2, Dane Borchers 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 24-31 73
Olivet: De'Andre Pruitt 7 3-4 19, Pearson 3 0-0 6, Derek Cox 5 0-0 10, Trais Shellhammer 1 4-4 6, Matt Brawley 6 3-3 16, Thad Mitchner 2 0-1 5, Dan Bonnell 0 0-0 0, Richard Britton 2 0-0 6, Steve Johnson 1 0-0 2, Willie Johnson III 0 0-0 0, Andy Storey 1 0-0 2. Totals: 28 10-12 72
Halftime score: Wittenberg 36, Olivet 36
3-point shooting: Wittenberg 5 (Molz 2, Bucheit 2, Brady), Olivet 6 (Pruitt 2, Britton 2, Brawley, Mitchner). Team fouls (fouled out): Wittenberg 14 (none), Olivet 23 (none). Team records: Wittenberg 3-1, Olivet 0-4
Niles High School to host Olivet game
Niles High School will be the site of Olivet's game Thursday against Andrews University.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and tickets costing $5 apiece. No passes will be allowed.