The Basics

Score: No. 2 Saginaw Valley 101, Olivet 82
Records: SVSU (6-0) | Olivet (2-3)
James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich. 

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The SVSU men's basketball team made it six straight victories to open the 2016-17 season, posting a 101-82 win over Olivet College on Monday (Nov. 28) night at O'Neill Arena. 

Saginaw Valley opened the game on a 9-0 run after free throws from Wade Gelhaus and C.J. Turnage, along with three-pointers from Mike Wells and Caleb Davis. After a Garrett Hall free throw with 11:00 left in the first that made the lead 24-15, the Comets made back-to-back triples to draw the score to 24-21.

The Cardinal lead was 33-30 with 6:21 to go in the opening half, but the home squad put seven points up in a row after buckets from Richie Roberts, Turnage and a three-point play from Jake Daniels to put the count at 40-30 with 5:26 showing on the clock.

SVSU would close-out the half on a 12-2 run, which was capped-off by two consecutive Daniels three-pointers to put the home team in the lead 54-38 at the half.

Davis hit a triple to open the second half for the Cards, pushing the lead to 19 points at 57-38. It would grow to 62-40 after a layup and three from Hall at the 18:24 marker.

The Saginaw Valley lead grew to as many as 29 points with 8:38 to play in the contest after Devin Dixon converted on a layup to make the score 87-57. The home team remained in control from there, using the second Jon Marosi triple to make the score 99-78 and two Malik Garner free throws inside of 25 seconds to give the home team 101 points. The Cardinals would end up sealing the 19 point victory, 101-82. 

Inside the Boxscore

• Davis earned Meijer Player of the Game honors after registering a game-high 20 points, adding six rebounds, four steals and an assist. 
• Turnage added 14 points, five boards, two assists, two blocks and a steal to the Cardinal effort.
• Hall had 13 points, six assists and four rebounds.
• Dixon netted 12 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
• Daniels also reached double-figures, adding 11 points while Garner had nine points and seven assists.
• The Cards forced 18 turnovers and committed 12 themselves.
• SVSU shot 26-of-34 from the line while the Comets made seven of just nine trips to the charity stripe.
• In the rebounding category, SVSU held a 42-34 edge and posted a 40-20 advantage in the paint. 
• It's the first time since 2002-03 that the program has put up consecutive games with at least 100 points. 

From Head Coach Randy Baruth

Up Next...

SVSU opens GLIAC play on Thursday (Dec. 1), as the team plays in the second game of an SVSU vs Hillsdale doubleheader at O'Neill Arena. The women tip-off at 6:00 p.m. and the men will follow that matchup against the Chargers.  

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