Leading 59-58 with just over five minutes remaining in the game, Olivet rattled off nine straight points to build a comfortable lead. During that stretch, Buena Vista missed two free throws and four field goals. The Beavers never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.
Buena Vista managed to get to the free throw line for a season-high 33 free throw attempts. However, the Beavers were only able to make 16 of those shots as they struggled once again (48% for the game, 52% for the season) from the charity stripe.
Andre Wagner led Buena Vista with a game-high 16 points. Brian Fogleman contributed 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Mark Joekel registered 12 points and six rebounds while Nolan Grimm chipped in 10 points off of the bench.
Olivet, which shot 57% from the field in the second half, had a balanced scoring attack which was led by Steve Johnson's 13-point and 11-rebound double-double. Robert Banks scored 13 points off of the Comet bench in just 10 minutes of play. Derek Kurtz and John Djurovski each tallied 11 points while Gerald Dozie added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Olivet, which improved to 4-4 with the victory, will square off against the winner of the Elmhurst College/Marian College game on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the championship game. Buena Vista, now 1-5 on the season, will face the other first round game's loser on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the consolation game.
Buena Vista University vs Olivet College (Mich.) 12/16/05 6:00 p.m. at Elmhurst, Ill. - R.A. Faganel Hall At Elmhurst, Ill. - R.A. Faganel Hall OLIVET COLLEGE (MICH.) 77, BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY 67 BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY (1-5) WAGNER, Andre 5-11 5-8 16; JOEKEL, Mark 5-11 1-2 12; FOGLEMAN, Brian 6-13 0-3 12; GRIMM, Nolan 2-5 4-4 10; MORGAN, Casey 2-3 1-2 5; FRANCIC, Nesha 1-4 2-4 4; BISSEN, Jeff 1-2 1-3 4; HOLTON, Eric 1-2 0-1 2; WITTRY, Matt 0-2 2-2 2; FRANKLIN, Rahn 0-3 0-4 0; PERSON, Travis 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-58 16-33 67. OLIVET COLLEGE (MICH.) (4-4) Robert Banks 6-8 0-1 13; Steve Johnson 6-8 1-6 13; John Djurovski 4-8 0-0 11; Derek Kurtz 3-6 4-5 11; Gerald Dozie 4-7 2-4 10; Jeff Cooper 3-8 1-1 7; Greg Ravy 1-4 4-4 6; De'Andre Clement 1-4 0-0 3; De'Andre Pruitt 1-5 0-0 3; Tiomkin Marsh 0-0 0-0 0; Eric McCoy 0-2 0-0 0; Antonio Higginbotham 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-62 12-21 77. Buena Vista University........ 30 37 - 67 Olivet College (Mich.)........ 32 45 - 77 3-point goals-Buena Vista University 5-19 (GRIMM, Nolan 2-5; BISSEN, Jeff 1-2; WAGNER, Andre 1-5; JOEKEL, Mark 1-3; WITTRY, Matt 0-1; FRANKLIN, Rahn 0-1; PERSON, Travis 0-1; FOGLEMAN, Brian 0-1), Olivet College (Mich.) 7-24 (John Djurovski 3-5; Derek Kurtz 1-4; De'Andre Clement 1-3; Robert Banks 1-2; De'Andre Pruitt 1-4; Eric McCoy 0-1; Greg Ravy 0-1; Jeff Cooper 0-2; Gerald Dozie 0-2). Fouled out--Buena Vista University-None, Olivet College (Mich.)-Gerald Dozie. Rebounds-Buena Vista University 39 (FOGLEMAN, Brian 7), Olivet College (Mich.) 41 (Steve Johnson 11). Assists-Buena Vista University 12 (HOLTON, Eric 3; BISSEN, Jeff 3), Olivet College (Mich.) 17 (Jeff Cooper 4). Total fouls-Buena Vista University 19, Olivet College (Mich.) 23. A-100