OLIVET, Mich. – Despite 26 points from Brandon Durnell and 21 from Daniel Cluster, the Spring Arbor University men's basketball team suffered an 85-83 loss at Olivet College in a tightly contested battle on Wednesday night.

Cluster buried a clutch 3-pointer to tie the score with 20 seconds remaining, but the Comets would score just before the buzzer to snap SAU's three-game winning streak and escape with the victory.

 
THE BASICS
SCORE: Spring Arbor 83, Olivet 85
LOCATION: Olivet, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 9-7, Olivet 1-13

 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Olivet built a double-digit lead early, grabbing a 19-8 lead just over five minutes into the game, but a 19-5 run by the Cougars erased the deficit. It was a back-and-forth battle from that point on. The see-saw battle featured 17 lead changes and 14 ties.
• Denver Cade put SAU in front, 80-77, with a 3-pointer at the 1:29 mark. However, Olivet answered immediately with a triple of its own to even the score.
• The Comets pulled ahead in the final minute when OC's Delbert Redfield hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, but Cluster buried a huge three on the other end to knot the score at 83-83 with only 20 seconds left.
• On their next possession, the Comets held for a final shot. Derrick Johnson's 3-point attempt was off the mark, but Chris Martin was there to grab the rebound and score on a put-back before the buzzer.
• Durnell notched his ninth double-double of the season with 26 points and 13 rebounds – both game-highs. He also dished out a game-high seven assists. Cluster followed with 21 points and seven boards. Cade chipped in 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.
• Five Olivet players reached double figures in scoring, led by 20 points from Eddie Thigpen.

 

UP NEXT
Spring Arbor will close out the season at home against No. 13 Marian University on Saturday, Feb. 20. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.