University of Mount Olive

While men's basketball was not the first sport Mount Olive College sponsored, it is the longest-running Trojan sport. (Mount Olive added baseball the previous year, but the sport was discontinued before being reinstated in 1980.)

The inaugural Mount Olive College Pickle Classic (originally called the Holiday Classic) took place during the 1965-66 season. The first tournament was won by Southwood College and the Most Valuable Player was eventual college and pro basketball Hall of Famer "Pistol" Pete Maravich.

Bobby Frank was the Trojans' first-ever head men's basketball coach. The 1965-66 roster included Tim Daniels, Duane Gwyn, Willie Houston, Tyrone Lucas, Dickie Reaves, Doug Simmons, Gary Steppler, George Thigpen, Jackie Turlington, Gerald Waddell and Johnnie Wadsworth.

Jackie Turlington spoke on behalf of the players and Coach Bobby Frank, and said "it was fun and I will never forget those years and I am so glad that I came here. I am very grateful to speak upon the pioneer team".