OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's basketball team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a 77-69 loss to Albion College tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Olivet led in the early stages by four points, 7-3, after senior Andre Evans (Muskegon/Muskegon Heights) canned a free throw to complete a three-point play. Albion fought back with a 7-0 run to take a 10-7 lead. The Comets answered with their own 7-0 run to regain a four-point lead, 14-10.

Olivet eventually went ahead by seven points, 22-15, at the 6:49 mark when senior Michael McClary (Bellaire) made a layup. The Britons slowly chipped away at their deficit and took a 30-28 after Chris Hutton nailed his third 3-pointer of the half. The Comets ended the half with a 3-1 run to tie the game at 31-31 at the break.

The teams traded the first six baskets of the second half. The seventh basket of the half game gave Olivet a 37-36 lead. The Comets continued to lead and led by as many as eight points, 52-44, with 10:35 left in regulation. Like the first half, Albion slowly fought back to knot the score at 55-55. The Britons then made a free throw for a three-point play to take a 58-55 lead and did not give it up for the rest of the game.

For the game, Albion shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, including 8-of-21 from behind the arc. Olivet shot slightly better from the floor at 38.1 percent (24-of-63) but were worse from three-point territory at 12.5 percent (2-of-16). The Britons also made 27-of-41 free throws to 19-of-26 for the Comets.

For Olivet, McClary posted his 42nd collegiate double-double with game highs in points (29) and rebounds (12). He also blocked three shots, while committing just one foul in a season-high 39 minutes. Evans joined McClary in double figures with 14 points. Junior Jaren Edsall (Whitehall) and sophomore Matt El (Allegan) contributed eight and seven points, respectively.

For Albion, J.C. Cruse also had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Chris Hutton and Kyle McDonald came off the bench to score 17 and 14 points, respectively.

The Comets (5-7, 0-1 MIAA) will stay home to face Adrian College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.