Craig Hayes scored 31 points on 14-for-16 shooting and Derek Staton became the first player in Mount Olive men's basketball history to reach the career 500-assist mark as the Trojans pulled away late after seeing a 19-point halftime lead disappear for an 83-72 victory over Erskine in Conference Carolinas men's basketball Saturday at Kornegay Arena. The was part of the 29th Annual Mount Olive College Basketball Church Night.

With the win, Mount Olive (17-7, 10-4 Conference Carolinas) clinched second place in the Conference Carolinas East Division and a home game February 28 in the first round of the conference tournament.

Saturday's contest also marked Senior Night and the Trojans' regular season home finale. Hayes, Staton and Kason Cheeks were recognized prior to the game, along with Trojan cheerleading seniors Hannah Guffey and Samantha Sawvel.

A senior guard from Norfolk, Va., Staton entered the game with 493 assists and hit the milestone before the last media timeout of the first half. Mahamed Ibrahim connected on a three-pointer from the left wing with 4:51 left in the first half to give Staton his 500th assist and Mount Olive a 36-25 lead. Ibrahim's three was part of a 19-1 run during the final 9:21 of the half as Hayes' basket with five seconds remaining gave the Trojans a 44-25 halftime lead. Hayes was 10-for-11 from the field in the first half for 20 points.

The first half had a statistical oddity as no fouls were called against either team for the first 13:33 of the contest. Mount Olive finished the first half with five fouls, while Erskine was not whistled for any fouls until the opening minute of the second half.

Erskine (9-17, 4-10) found its range from beyond the arc early in the second half as three-pointers by Travis Liner and Filip Pejovic helped the Flying Fleet trim the margin to single digits at 47-38 with 17:19 left to play. Mount Olive was held without a field goal until Hayes' short jumper exactly three minutes into the second half.

Pejovic then knocked down another three to trigger a 10-0 Erskine run as Brandon Quarles' long outlet pass set up DeShaun Hall to pull the Flying Fleet within 49-48 with 14:59 to go. Kendall Hargrove's dunk gave Mount Olive some breathing room and electrified the crowd of over 1,200, but Pejovic's third three-pointer of the game - all in the second half - tied the contest 57-57 with 10:34 remaining.

The game was tied again after Staton and Hall traded three-pointers, but Staton broke a 60-60 tie with another three on Mount Olive's next possession and the Trojans led for the remainder of the contest. The margin never fell below three points the rest of the way and offensive putbacks by Dory Hines and Jordan McCain on back-to-back possessions helped Mount Olive build the lead back to double digits at 78-68 with 2:33 left to play.

Both Hayes and Staton recorded double-doubles as Hayes pulled down 12 rebounds, while Staton finished with 14 points and 10 assists to go with six rebounds. Staton scored 10 of his points in the second half. Hines added eight assists and six boards.

Corey Sorrell led five Erskine players in double figures with 17 points. Pejovic added 14 points, while Hall and Quarles finished with 13 points apiece. Hall also had seven assists and three steals. The Flying Fleet connected on each of their first four three-point attempts of the second half to get back into the game.

The Trojans entered Saturday's contest with a mathematical chance to win the East Division, but Queens clinched the East with a win over Lees-McRae Saturday. Mount Olive plays at Queens Saturday in the two teams' regular season finale.

Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans travel to Laurinburg, N.C., to take on St. Andrews in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Mount Olive won the first meeting 97-83 January 18 at Kornegay Arena. Tuesday's contest will be the last conference meeting between the two teams as St. Andrews officially leaves Conference Carolinas for NAIA membership. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.