University of Mount Olive cut a 23-point halftime deficit down to 10 points, but the rally came up short as the Trojans fell to Pfeiffer University 87-71 in Conference Carolinas men's basketball Saturday at Misenheimer, N.C. Dontrell Brite led the Trojans with 18 points.
Mount Olive (9-7 overall, 4-4 Conference Carolinas) has overcome deficits of 15 points or more in two wins this season and threatened to repeat the feat again Saturday. Brite scored 14 of his points in the first eight-plus minutes of the second half, knocking down three 3-pointers. Cecil Moore converted a three-point play with 9:58 left in the contest to pull the Trojans within 64-54.
Pfeiffer (7-8, 3-4) limited Mount Olive to a single point over the next three minutes and the Falcons capped a 9-1 run with five fast break points on steals by Mike Smith on back-to-back Trojan possessions to extend the lead to 73-55 with 7:25 remaining. Mount Olive never got any closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
After taking an early lead in the first half, Mount Olive went four minutes without a field goal as Pfeiffer built its first double-digit lead at 18-8 with 14:11 left before halftime. Mike Moore's layup pulled the Trojans within five, but the Falcons came back with 11 unanswered points to extend their lead to 43-27 with 2:43 remaining.
Dominique Reed's dunk with 2:16 left snapped Mount Olive's five-minute scoring drought, but the Trojans went scoreless the remainder of the half. Andrew Guerrero hit a pair of three-pointers for Pfeiffer and the Falcons went on to take a 52-29 halftime lead. Pfeiffer outscored the Trojans 20-2 over the final seven minutes of the half.
Brite and Tayon Gleaves each connected on three 3-pointers for the Trojans. Gleaves finished with nine points off the bench.
Guerrero led all players with 25 points for Pfeiffer, while Smith added 21 points.
Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans play host to King University in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.