Trojans Rally From 19 Points Down To Top Emmanuel 72-69

Trojans Rally From 19 Points Down To Top Emmanuel 72-69

Mike Moore's three-pointer with 21 seconds left broke a 69-69 tie as University of Mount Olive rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit for a 72-69 victory over Emmanuel College in Conference Carolinas men's basketball Saturday at Franklin Springs, Ga. The win extended the Trojans' winning streak to six, including five in a row on the road. The win also marked the second game in a row in which Mount Olive came back from at least 15 points down. The Trojans also snapped Emmanuel's eight-game winning streak.

Mount Olive (8-4 Overall, 3-1 Conference Carolinas) trailed by 17 at halftime and Emmanuel extended its lead to 42-23 in the opening minute of the second half. Dontrell Brite ignited a 17-2 run with a three-pointer with 10:41 remaining and added another three-pointer three minutes later to tie the game. After Dominique Reed blocked an Emmanuel shot attempt, Jacque Brown's basket with exactly seven minutes left put Mount Olive on top 60-58, the Trojans' first lead since going up 6-5 less than four minutes into the game.

Emmanuel's (8-3, 3-2) Zach Vess stopped the run and tied the game up with a layup with 5:19 left. The two squads continued to fight it out as Mount Olive held on to the lead for the next 4:16. The Lions were able to tie the game up at 69 with just over a minute to play. Mount Olive then called a timeout with 52 seconds left in regulation. After a missed three-pointer, the Trojans crashed the offensive board and Jamaal Matin came down with the rebound. Brown found Moore for what proved to be the game-winning three-pointer. 

The Lions were fouled twice in the final seconds of the game, but were unable to convert on their free throw attempts and Mount Olive moved their win streak to six.

The beginning of the game saw a different pace as the Trojans kept it close in the opening minutes. Emmanuel used a nine point run with 16:10 in the first half to take its first marginal lead 14-6. Mount Olive responded with six unanswered points of their own and brought the game to a 21-14 ball game with 10:46. A five point counter run by Emmanuel gave the Lions their first double digit with under ten minutes before the break.
The Trojans were not able to bring the lead back under double digits to close out the first half as Emmanuel took a six point run into halftime and led 40-23. Mount Olive regained its composure in the second half as the Trojans pushed back for a close finish.
Brite led all scorers for the Trojans with 19 points. Reed added 14 points. Moore finished with 13 points, Matin had 11, and Brown had 10 to round out the double digits scorers for Mount Olive.
Elijah Robinson led Emmaunel with 15 points in the contest.
Mount Olive returns to action next weekend as the Trojans travel to Upstate South Carolina for a pair of Conference Carolinas contests. The Trojans travel to Limestone College Friday, then head to North Greenville University Saturday. Tip-off for both games is 7:30 p.m.
Mount Olive plays its first home contest of 2016 January 13 against Emmanuel.