ADRIAN, Mich. - The Calvin men's basketball team improved to 4-0 in MIAA play with a hard-fought 64-59 win at Adrian College on Saturday.

The defense of both teams made it difficult to score in the first half, as Calvin (12-3, 4-0 MIAA) jumped in front to an 18-8 lead, but Adrian (4-11, 1-3 MIAA) responded with a 10-2 run. 

The Knights came back with a run of their own and finished the half with a 28-23 lead following a pair of three throws by Jalen Overway (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) in the final seconds. Overway led Calvin with 10 first-half points, but both teams were held to 35.7 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

Calvin continued to roll to start the second half, pushing the lead as high as 15 points and held a 55-41 advantage with 5:36 to play. 

The Bulldogs would not go away quietly, however, running off 12 straight points to cut the Knights' lead to 55-53 until a three-point play by Uchenna Egekeze (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) converted a three-point play to give Calvin some breathing room with 1:24 remaining in regulation.

Adrian continued to battle, but Matt Ambrose (Kildeer, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) made a right-handed runner from the baseline in the final minute, and then combined with Overway to go 4-4 from the three throw line in the final possessions to finish off the win.

The Knights shot 53.6 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 44.4 percent. Calvin also took advantage of their size and athleticism on the glass as it out-rebounded Adrian 37-25 and out-scored the Bulldogs 13-2 in second-chance points.

Overway led the Knights with 19 points and nine rebounds. Egekeze added 12 points, while Luka Ressler (Caledonia, Mich./Catholic Central) added nine points.

COACH'S COMMENT: "Tough, gritty win on the road," Calvin head men's basketball coach Bill Sall said. "We had a number of players step up. I felt Eli Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill. Westlake Christian Academy) played his best overall game tonight. Matt Ambrose had a clutch basket and a couple of huge free throws down the stretch." 

NEXT UP: Calvin men's basketball returns to action on Wednesday, January 18, when it hosts Kalamazoo College in a game scheduled to tip off at 6:00 PM.