Regionally seventh-ranked University of Mount Olive rallied from an eight-point first-half deficit, but Limestone College pulled away in the second half to snap the Trojans' six-game winning streak with a 77-65 victory in Conference Carolinas men's basketball Friday at Gaffney, S.C. Dontrell Brite and Dominique Reed led the Trojans with 18 points apiece. Reed also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Mount Olive (8-5 overall, 3-2 Conference Carolinas) trailed 24-16 with just over six minutes left in the first half before Jaquan Blount's three-pointer ignited a Trojan rally. Reed hit a pair of layups in the final 92 seconds of the first half to pull the Trojans within 32-29 at halftime.
Reed's putback and Mike Moore's jumper off a dish by Reed in the opening minute of the second half put Mount Olive on top for the first time in the game at 33-32. Brite's three-pointer with 14:30 remaining capped a 19-5 run and gave the Trojans their biggest lead at 44-37.
Limestone (5-9, 3-3) chipped away at the lead and Brolin Floyd's jumper with 9:54 left to play tied the game 53-53. Mount Olive regained the lead on a jumper by Moore, but Limestone tied the game on a layup by Shaq Dance and the Saints went back on top to stay on a three-pointer by Floyd.
Brite's jumper with 4:27 remaining pulled Mount Olive within 63-59, but Limestone answered with a three-pointer Macoumba Kane and the margin never fell below six points the rest of the way.
Moore added 10 points for Mount Olive, while freshman Jacque Brown led all players with a career-high eight assists.
Dance scored a game-high 26 points for Limestone, while Floyd added 18 points off the bench.
Mount Olive concludes its weekend visit to Upstate South Carolina Saturday as the Trojans travel to North Greenville University for a Conference Carolinas match-up. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at Tigerville, S.C.