ANGOLA, Ind. – Senior Michael McClary (Belliaire) scored a school record and career-high 43 points to lead the Olivet College men's basketball team to a 90-83 win over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Trine (Ind.) University tonight at Hershey Hall in Angola, Indiana. With his 43 points, McClary moved into third-place on the college's all-time scoring list with 1,580 points. He now needs 23 points to pass Gordon Lofts fors second-place and 63 points to pass Mike Maciasz for the top spot.
In the first half, the Thunder led by as many as five points on three occasions. Olivet fought back with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 13-13. After three more tied scores, the Comets took their first lead of the contest, 21-20, with 4:52 left in the half when McClary made a free throw to complete a three-point play.
Olivet extended its lead to eight points, 36-28. Trine scored the final six points of the half to trail by two points, 36-34, at the break. McClary finished the first 20 minutes with 21 points, shooting 7-for-8 from the floor and 7-for-10 from the charity stripe. Noah Veach topped the Thunder with 12 points.
In the second half, the Comets stretched their lead to 12 points, 56-44, with 13:43 left. Trine came back with a 14-4 run to cut its deficit down to two points, 60-58. Olivet countered with a 15-4 run to gain its largest lead of the game with 5:05 remaining in the game. The Thunder would get no closer than five points for the rest of the game.
For the game, the Comets shot 50.8 percent (32-of-63) from the floor to 45.6 percent (31-of-68) for the Thunder. Olivet was also 22-of-34 from the free throw line, while Trine was 15-of-24.
All five Comet starters reached double figures in the scoring column. McClary made 16-of-23 baskets and 11-of-15 free throws for his 43 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to record his seventh double-double this season and the 45th of his career. Junior Jaren Edsall (Whitehall) contributed 13 points, followed by junior Eric Mack (Eastpointe/Roseville) with a career-high 12 points, senior Joe Post (Olivet) with 11 and senior Nathan Jennings (Grant) with 10. Post also dished out a game-high 10 assists.
Veach led the Thunder with 22 points. Randall Harris came off the bench to score 16, while starters Ian Jackson and Scott Rogers each had 11. Rogers pulled down a team-leading nine rebounds.
Olivet returns home to play Kalamazoo College Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The game is a part of women's-men's doubleheader, as the Comet women play Adrian College at 3 p.m.
Top five individual single-game scoring records
- Michael McClary – 43 points vs. Trine (1/19/2011)
- Jeff Bell – 42 points vs. Walsh (11/21/1997)
- Gordon Lofts – 40 points vs. Albion (2/17/1968)
- Gordon Lofts – 39 points vs. Calvin (2/27/1965)
Jeff Bell – 39 points vs. Alma (1/24/1998)