Story by Mitch Blankespoor
OLIVET, Mich. – Just as they have many games this season, the Kalamazoo College men's basketball duo of senior guard Mark Ghafari and junior forward Adam Peters propelled the Hornets to a 90-83 victory over the Comets of Olivet College. The win is K's first in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and snaps a three-game losing streak dating back to Dec. 30 of 2013.
"Getting a win on the road in this league is tough," Kalamazoo Head Coach Eric Dougal said. "The game was physical, and we are happy to leave with a win."
Ghafari turned in yet another 30-point game scoring exactly 30 points while shooting an impressive 10-14 from the field. The Grosse Pointe Woods native also grabbed eight rebounds. Peters finished with a double-double scoring 27 points and grabbing 11 boards. Freshman forward Chase Baysdell chipped in 14 points.
Kalamazoo led by as many as six in the early going, but that lead was erased at the 12:12 mark when an R.J. Hass layup tied the game at 19.
With just under five minutes to play, Olivet guard T.J. Vondette scored seven straight points in 40 seconds to give Olivet a 37-31 lead. The Comets would ride that advantage to a 41-39 halftime lead.
Kalamazoo erased the deficit 90 seconds into the second half on a Peters layup. Trailing several minutes later with Olivet leading 56-54, Kalamazoo went on a 9-0 run in 1:30. The Comets responded once again and tied the game at 54.
From then until the 2:00 mark, neither team led by more than two scores. With a minute to play, Mark Ghafari nailed a three pointer to give K an 84-81 lead. After an Olivet miss the Comets fouled, and the Hornets converted their free throw attempts to seal the victory.
The free throw line, in fact, is what won the game for Kalamazoo. The Hornets made 26 of 27 attempts while Olivet converted half of its 18 free throws. The Comets did, however, make three more field goals and attempt 29 more than Kalamazoo in the game.
"We were great from the line tonight," Dougal said. "We got the right guys to the line."
Vondette finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Olivet in defeat.
Kalamazoo improves to 6-7 on the season and 1-1 in the MIAA. The Hornets return to action Jan. 15 when K travels to Angola, Ind. for an 8:00 p.m. contest.