Dontrell Brite led four players in double figures with 19 points as nationally 12th-ranked University of Mount Olive set a school record with its 12th consecutive win, an 82-69 victory over Southern Wesleyan in Conference Carolinas men's basketball Wednesday at Central, S.C. The Trojans built a 16-point halftime lead and the margin never fell below 13 points in the second half.
Mount Olive (23-2 overall, 16-1 Conference Carolinas) saw a 12-point lead cut down to four in the first half. Brite's layup off of JaQuan Blount's steal gave the Trojans a 26-14 advantage with 12:29 left in the half. Southern Wesleyan (5-18, 5-11) cut the margin to four as three-pointers by Cameron Solomon and Kenny Holmes highlighted a 10-2 run for the Warriors.
The Trojans outscored Southern Wesleyan 14-2 to end the half to build the lead back to double digits. Tayon Gleaves hit a three-pointer during the run and Dominique Reed's dunk with 1:07 remaining gave Mount Olive a 44-28 halftime lead.
Mount Olive led by as many as 21 points in the second half after James Rucker's basket with 11:09 remaining gave the Trojans a 57-36 advantage. Southern Wesleyan kept the Trojans from running away with the game as Solomon's four-point play pulled the Warriors within 75-62 with 3:06 left to play. But that's as close as the Warriors would get.
Mount Olive's previous longest winning streak was 11 games, originally set in 2003-04 and matched in 2009-10. The Trojans have not lost since their nationally televised game at King January 3.
Brite was 6-for-10 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. He also dished out four assists and recorded three steals. Jordan McCain scored 15 points, Mike Moore added 14 points and Reed finished with 11 points. Blount had a team-high five assists.
Solomon scored 22 of his game-high 33 points in the second half for Southern Wesleyan. Holmes added 14 points and seven assists.
Mount Olive returns to action Saturday as the Trojans travel to Belmont N.C., to take on Belmont Abbey in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Tip-off is 4 p.m.