Dontrell Brite led the team with 21 points, but it was not enough as the No. 5 University Of Mount Olive fell to Wingate University 84-68 Tuesday night in non-conference men's basketball in Wingate, N.C. The loss snaps the Trojans' 19-game regular season winning streak, dating back to last January.
The game was televised on ESPN3, marking the Trojan men's basketball team's third appearance on national television
The Trojans, after allowing the first points of the game to the Bulldogs, scored seven unanswered points topped off by a Mike Moore dunk to give Mount Olive a 7-3 lead. Mount Olive kept the lead until a dunk by Wingate's Keith Griffin at the 11:52 mark swung the lead to the Bulldogs 19-18.
Mount Olive responded with a three-pointer by Brite and the Trojans held onto the lead for the remainder of the half and went into the halftime up 39-31.
Early in the second half following a free-throw by JaQuan Blount, Griffin sparked an 8-0 run for the Bulldogs and Wingate regained control 43-42 with 16:39 remaining in the game. The tempo of the game switched back-and-forth as the game saw four ties in the next 3:34. The lead however, stayed with the Bulldogs as Isiah Cureton's free throws started an 12-2 run that broke the game open 65-54 with just under eight minutes to play.
Unfortunately Mount Olive was unable to mount a comeback as the lead ballooned out to 18 and the Bulldogs secured the win.
Joining Brite in double figures was Blount who finished with 14 points and five boards. Tayon Gleaves came off the bench and delivered nine points and three boards.
Wingate had four players score in double figures. Cureton lead the team with 21 points. Josh Dominguez added 16, Zerig Lolar had 11 and Xavier Griffin had 10 to round out the top scorers for the Bulldogs.
Mount Olive returns home to open up the regular season in Kornegay Arena in the 50th Annual Mount Olive Pickle Classic Friday night. The Trojans host Virginia State University in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. inside Kornegay Arena.