Three players combined for 57 points, including 10 three-pointers, as Olivet College defeated Elmira College, 95-81, in the semifinals of the UR/Holiday Inn Rochester Downtown Thanksgiving Invitational hosted by the University of Rochester.
 
The Comets will play host Rochester in the championship game on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Louis Alexander Palestra. Rochester defeated Stockton University, 72-65, in the first semifinal. Elmira will duel Stockton for third place at 12 p.m.
 
Derrick Johnson, Eddie Thigpen, and Lorris Upshaw scored 19 points apiece for Olivet (2-1). Johnson added six assists, six rebounds, and three steals. He sank five of 12 three-point attempts. Upshaw had three treys in five attempts. He was 7 of 10 from the floor. Thigpen added four assists and two steals.
 
Elmira (1-5) played four men in double figures. Rashaad Nurse had 19 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Bryan Adams scored 14 points to accompany seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals. David Kruis had 12 points and Harry Ravitz scored 10.
 
Olivet found a shooting stroke in the second half after shooting just 41% in the first 20 minutes. The Comets sank 19 of 31 from the floor (61.3%), six of 10 outside the arc (60%). Elmira improved to 45.5% in the second half (the Soaring Eagles were 13 of 38 (34.2%) in the first period. Bu Elmira couldn't connect from distance, making only five of 27 shots from outside the arc.
 
The Comets led by two at halftime, (40-38), but didn't put together a definitive scoring run until the last 10 minutes of the game. Thigpen scored five points in less than 30 seconds to extend the lead to 73-62 with 6:54 remaining.
 
The teams combined for 64 free throw attempts (Olivet was 16 of 28, Elmira 20 of 36), 37 turnovers, 22 steals, and nine blocked shots.