BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The No. 18 Carthage College men's basketball team ended 2019 with a 88-73 non-conference loss to Olivet Tuesday afternoon at Battle Creek Central High School Fieldhouse. 

The Comets (3-8) started with an 16-5 advantage to start the game over the Red Men (9-2). Carthage battled back with an 20-7 run to tie the game at 23 and later took a two-point lead with a tip-in bucket from Fillip Bulatovic with 5:49 remaining in the first half. Olivet regained control of the game and went into the locker rooms up 40-36.

The Comets continued the momentum in the second half going up by 10 with 13:23 left in regulation. The Red Men slowly chipped away at the lead throughout the half shrinking the deficit to six with a layup from Jordon Kedrowski 4:45 remaining however, Olivet went on to take the victory 88-73.

Next, Carthage returns home facing Augustana (Ill.) on Saturday, January 4 in a doubleheader with the Carthage College women's basketball team; men tip-off at 7 p.m.