Nov. 1, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Joe Francis scored a game winning layup just before time expired to help the Grand Rapids Community College men's basketball team to a season opening 92-90 victory over Olivet's junior varsity program.

GRCC led by as many as 10 after a three-pointer by Seth Schuitema with 7:16 left in the first half, but the Comets outscored the Raiders 21-8 to take a 45-42 lead going into halftime.

The Comets extended its lead to 11, 70-59, with 11:38 left in the game, but GRCC's Jovante Jones capped off a 14-0 run to give the Raiders back the lead.

There was a total of 17 lead changes in the game, but none more exciting than the final three possessions. 

Tristan McRoberts found Francis with 38 seconds left to give the Raiders a 90-88 lead, but Olivet responded with a layup with 6.6 seconds left.  Francis then raced right down the middle of the court scoring the game winning layup with just 0.5 seconds on the clock.  

Francis shot 12-25 from the field, finishing with 30 points in 28 minutes.  McRoberts tallied the games only double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.  He also added a team-high four assists.  Jones had 10 points and a team-high three steals. 

GRCC travels to Illinois this weekend to take on Oakton College and Harper College.

  
Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.