Kendall Hargrove scored 11 points off the bench, but Mount Olive could not overcome a slow start and the Trojans' four-game winning streak came to an end with a 68-55 Conference Carolinas men's basketball setback at Queens University Wednesday night in Charlotte, N.C.
The Trojans (10-9 overall, 7-6 CC) fell behind early as turnovers and poor shooting led to a 19-6 deficit 11 minutes into the contest. Mount Olive shot just 30 percent from the field in the opening half and never found its shooting touch. Queens responded by getting shots in close. The Royals (11-9, 8-6 CC) got 46 of its 68 points in the paint. Queens also outrebounded Mount Olive 34-20.
Mount Olive trailed by as much as 17 in the contest and twice went more than four minutes without a point. The Trojans made their strongest push early in the second half. A dunk by Hargrove, a layup from Dory Hines and a three-pointer from Mahamed Ibrahim cut the deficit to 40-32 with 15:23 remaining. Two minutes later, a pair of layups by Hargrove trimmed it to 42-36.
The Trojans got no closer.
Ewon Wright and Ibrahim added eight points apiece, including a combined 4-of-10 from three-point range. Hines finished with three steals.
Queens was paced by Antonio Stabler with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Joby Glymph added 17 points.