MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive men's basketball team fell 72-67 to the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at Kornegay Arena in Mount Olive, NC. UMO fell to 3-3 and 0-1 in conference, while SWU improved to 4-2 and 1-0.
GAME INFORMATION
The contest was the first Conference Carolinas match-up of the season for the Trojans.
INSIDE THE SCORE
UMO got on the scoreboard first scoring the first seven points of the contest on a three from Cameron Robinson, and baskets from Jonathan Mebane and Johnny Hughes III. SWU found their first basket at the 17:28 mark connecting on a three-pointer from Jalen Lowery. The Warriors climbed within two points, 9-7, on a Hunter Davis layup but the Trojans pulled ahead 15-9 following three free throws from Matthias Caver and a three-pointer from Michael Brown. SWU again pulled within two and battled with UMO for the lead, eventually claiming it briefly, 25-24 on a Smith layup at the 6:48 mark. The squads traded baskets and the lead several times over four minutes but a pair of Calvin Washington free throws gave UMO the 32-30 lead with 2:08 in the opening half. SWU hit a three to take a 33-32 lead but back-to-back three-pointers from Washington and Mebane put UMO ahead at the horn 38-32.
Mount Olive came out of halftime opening up a 10-point lead, 46-36, in the first 2:15 of the second half. Southern Wesleyan climbed withing six points, 50-44, but the Trojans reclaimed a double-digit lead going up 13 points, 59-46 at the 12:53 mark. Each team scored a pair of free throws but from12:10 until the 8:47 mark neither team scored with the drought being broken by SWU's Smith as he connected on a layup. The Warriors chipped away at the Trojans double-digit lead and came within eight points, 66-58 at the 5:37 mark. A free throw by Mebane gave UMO it's last point with 5:06 on the clock and after that, the basket went ice cold for UMO who did not score the remainder of the game. Southern Wesleyan managed to capitalize during this time and went from trailing eight points to winning by five as they closed out the game on an 11-0 rally.
MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Michael Brown and Darius Spragley with 12 points each. Johnny Hughes III and Jonathan Mebane were close behind with 11 points in the game. Hughes led UMO with eight rebounds and five steals.
SOUTHERN WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Warriors were led by Solomon Smith with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Cameron Holmes, Jalen Lowery, and Ta'Jay Dunlap each tallied 12 points and Hunter Davis added 11.
KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the final five minutes of the contest when Mount Olive failed to score a basket allowing the Warriors to come from behind and close out the game on an 11-0 run winning 72-67.
UP NEXT
Mount Olive's next game is a road match-up against the Hawks of Chowan University on Tuesday, Nov. 26th. Tip-off between UMO and CU is set for 7:30 PM following the women's game at 5:30 PM.
