Mount Olive senior Kason Cheeks scored 19 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, both career-highs, and the Trojans used a 9-0 run down the stretch to win their fifth consecutive game 74-59 over North Greenville in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action Saturday night at Kornegay Arena. Saturday's contest was part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Weekend, sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society. The Trojan coaches wore sneakers with their suits to emphasize the importance of fitness and proper diet in the prevention of cancer.

The Crusaders (10-8, 4-6 Conference Carolinas) used their inside muscle to trim a 15-point Mount Olive lead to 48-42 with 11:14 remaining. When Mount Olive (13-6, 6-3 Conference Carolinas) clamped down on defense, North Greenville struggled to get the ball in scoring position.

Dory Hines started a 14-6 run with a three-point play, then Cheeks started a fastbreak with a steal and finished it with a three-point play of his own to stretch the lead back to double-figures.

The Crusaders were still within 10 when Mount Olive's 9-0 run put the game away. North Greenville turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. Kendall Hargrove came with two steals during the run, setting up a lay-up and a dunk for Cheeks and a three-point play for himself.

Mount Olive also kept the Crusaders at arm's length by delivering at the free throw line when the game was still in doubt.

The Trojans never trailed in the contest. A 9-2 run midway through the first half gave Mount Olive a 26-16 lead. Four different players scored for Mount Olive during the surge. A dunk by Deshaune Green gave the Trojans a 41-28 advantage at intermission. A Cheeks tip-in moments into the second half stretched the lead to 15 before North Greenville fought back.

Craig Hayes joined Cheeks in double-figures with 14 points, Green added a season-high 11. Hargrove came off the bench for 10 and five steals. Dory Hines led Mount Olive with seven assists.

The Trojan defense forced North Greenville to shoot just 2-of-17 from three-point range and commit 22 turnovers.

The Crusaders were led by Paul Harrison, who finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Chris Dean added 17 points.

Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans head to Hartsville, S.C., for a Conference Carolinas rematch against Coker. Mount Olive defeated Coker 68-62 January 3 at Kornegay Arena in the two teams' conference opener as Hayes accounted for more than half of the Trojans' scoring total with a career-high 35 points. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.