Kendall Hargrove had 14 points and five steals, but Erskine ended Mount Olive's five-game winning streak by rallying for a 74-67 Conference Carolinas men's basketball decision Saturday afternoon in Due West, S.C.
The Trojans (6-8 Overall, 3-5 Conference Carolinas) built an eight-point lead at halftime, thanks largely to an 8-2 run late in the period. With the game tied 25-25 with 7:57 to play, Mount Olive forced the Flying Fleet into four missed jumpers and three turnovers during the surge that lasted almost four minutes. Hargrove hit a pair of jumpers and had two steals to get the run started, while Dominique Reed and Darrell Patterson added jumpers.
Mount Olive took a 40-33 lead into the locker room. When the teams returned to the floor, the Trojans threatened to pull away. A three-pointer by Patterson, then a pair of Ewon Wright free throws gave Mount Olive its biggest lead, 49-38, four minutes into the second half.
DeShaun Hall brought the Flying Fleet (9-4, 5-4 CC) back. Hall hit a jumper, then converted a three-point play to swing momentum back to Erskine. Corey Sorrell made three-of-four free throws, then assisted on a three-point play by Mike Gabbard to tie the game 51-51 with 11:09 left.
Erskine tied the game three more times before taking the lead for good on a three-pointer by Jake Haslam with 7:05 to play. Mount Olive got within one point twice down the stretch, the final time coming on a Dory Hines jumper with 5:13 left. The Trojans made just one field goal the rest of the game.
The Trojans shot just 33 percent from the field in the contest, including 25 percent in the second half.
Patterson was the only other Trojan in double figures, adding 13 points. He has scored at least 10 points in 11 of the past 12 games and eight in a row.
Mount Olive returns home to meet Belmont Abbey Wednesday night. The women's contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.