Men's Basketball Falls To King; 60-59

Men's Basketball Falls To King; 60-59

BRISTOL, TENN. – The University of Mount Olive men's basketball team fell to the Tornado of King University 60-59 on the road in Bristol, Tenn., in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: King 60, Mount Olive 59
Records: Mount Olive (6-10, 5-2), Lees-McRae (9-6, 2-3)
Location: Bristol, Tenn.

How It Happened
Play-by-Play

FIRST HALF

  • The game started off slow with King grabbing the early advantage and UMO taking the lead on a Jamaal Matin three-pointer at the 15:29 mark as only five combined points were scored between the two squads.
  • After Don Pigford tied the game at seven with 11:52 remaining in the half, King went on a 7-0 run to take a 14-7 lead.
  • Darius Spragley stopped the run by the Tornado and gave UMO something to cheer about by starting a nine-point run to propel the visitors in front 17-14 with 6:58 before halftime.
  • UMO held their lead until KU was able to tie the game at 21 on a jumper with 3:46 remaining.
  • The Trojans then scored five unanswered points but the lead was short lived as King once again was able to tie the game at 26 with 34 seconds before the break.
  • King had an opportunity to break the tie at the buzzer but missed a layup and the two teams went into halftime tied.

SECOND HALF

  • Mount Olive trailed early in the second but was able to set-up a five-point run to regain the lead 31-28.
  • Once again King Tied the game at 31, but UMO bounced back following a 5-0 run from Matin and Tanner Poole led 39-33 with 15:23.
  • The two squads exchanged the lead and ties for the next ten minutes until King broke the tie UMO held at the 5:28 mark with four unanswered points to take a 52-48 lead.
  • A Matin three got Mount Olive to within one with 3:58 but that was as close as the Trojans got as King scored once again four unanswered points and made the cushion grow once more.
  • Mount Olive did not go down without a fight as Matin hit a three-pointer to launch a six-point run to draw the score to within one with 23 seconds left.
  • UMO fouled and was able to grab the defensive rebound after King missed their free-throw opportunity and had a chance for the game-winning shot but it did not find the bottom of the net and the final horn sounded.

KEY STATS

UP NEXT

Mount Olive returns home to Kornegay Arena to host arch-rival Barton College, Wednesday, January 16, at 7:30 P.M. Live coverage of the game will begin at 7:20 p.m.