Olivet Olivet 1-2,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.

100

John Carroll JCU 1-0,0-0 NCAC

Olivet Olivet

1-2,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.

Final

Nov. 14, 2025

100

John Carroll JCU

1-0,0-0 NCAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Olivet Olivet	37	59	96
John Carroll JCU	50	50	100

Summary
Box Score

Gavin Hunter

Jack Zapolnik and Mike Lambirand

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 11/14/2025 11:05:00 PM | Aiden Ramsden, Staff Writer

Men's Basketball Starts Season by Beating Olivet in Fast-Paced Victory

The Blue Streaks' depth was on display as JCU unveiled a new style of play

TIFFIN, Ohio -- After a long wait, the John Carroll Men's Basketball team is back in action, this time debuting a new style of play.

The new-look, fast-paced Blue Streaks ran their way up and down the court to a season-opening 100-96 victory over the University of Olivet at the Ron Linheart Memorial Classic.

Aidan Fitzgerald started the season off sinking a three on John Carroll's first possession to take a lead. The teams exchanged scores with the Comets slowly growing a lead as they got it up to five less than four minutes into the game. The Blue Streaks kept it close, shrinking the lead and Mike Lamirand's first career bucket, a three, regained the lead, one that the Blue Streaks would not give back.

A few possessions later, a Kasey Hunt three would push the lead to five. Olivet continued to battle but John Carroll did not fall behind. The teams continued to exchange mini runs until the Blue Streaks went off on a 15-2 run to close the half. The 4-minute run featured two makes from deep by Fitzgerald as well as Hunt and Jack Zapolnik finding the bottom of the net from behind the arc.

A great shooting performance combined with ferocious defense had the Streaks up 50-37 headed into the break.

Olivet started the second half off with a three of their own to ignite their comeback attempt. The Comets began to chip away at the lead but luckily the Blue Streaks didn't make it easy. A coast-to-coast layup for the Comets' Richardson cut their deficit to just three. However, the sophomores from Saint Ignatius, Zapolnik and Lamirand, went on a 6-0 run of their own to get the lead back up to nine.

Olivet chipped away once again but another 14-3 Blue Streak run that was capped off by a Lamirand three pushed the lead steadily back into double digits at 18 with eight and a half minutes remaining. The squads went back into the mode of exchanging baskets with the lead not changing much as John Carroll held a 90-73 advantage with 3:24 remaining.

However, those final three minutes featured the Comets going 6-of-8 from the field as they stormed back to make it interesting. An onslaught of threes paired with free throws got Olivet right back into this game.

Possession after possession the lead only got smaller, however thanks to eight Luke Chicone free throws the lead never went away. Olivet nailed a deep three at the end of the game to finalize the score in favor of the Blue Streaks

Luke Chicone led all scorers with 22 points, thanks in part to a 8-of-12 day from the charity stripe.

Zapolnik followed up with 17 points of his own, going 2-of-3 from behind the arc.

Fitzgerald and Lamirand rounded it out for Pete Moran's squad with 15 and 14 points respectively.

The Blue Streaks' new style of play, featuring 94 feet of defensive pressure and very fast paced offense is going to be a fun watch all season long.

"It's gonna be a fun season, I promise. You're going to need to tune into each and every game," said senior captain Devin Burgess about his team's new play style.

"It's all about grit, it's about those bloody knees," stated Aidan Fitzgerald, "That Matthew Dellavedova mentality."

Next Up
The Blue Streaks have a quick turnaround as they stay in Tiffin for a matchup with an old conference foe in the hosting Heidelberg Student Princes. Tip-off is set for Saturday at 3 pm.

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