MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive men's basketball team defeated North Greenville University 72-64 on Friday afternoon in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action. UMO improves to 1-3, 1-3 on the season, while North Greenville falls to 1-2, 1-2.

INSIDE THE SCORE
Mount Olive opened the contest with the first two baskets, with Trojan Johnny Hughes making a three-point basket giving the Trojans an early 5-0 lead at the 18:13 mark. It didn't take long for North Greenville to respond by putting up two baskets themselves to tie the game 5-5 with 17:29 remaining in the first half. Both teams went back and forth, which resulted in four ties. North Greenville started to pull away with a 7-0 run to take the lead 31-24 at the 5:45 mark. North Greenville found themselves extending their lead, not allowing the Trojans to bridge the gap. NGU ended the half with a nine-point lead 40-31 to end the half. 

North Greenville continued their run from the first half by adding eight more points to their fourteen point lead 48-34 at the 17:08 mark. The Trojans were finally able to stop the run as they outscored NGU 21-4 to tie the game 52-52 with 8:19 remaining in the game. Mount Olive never lost their momentum as they continued to stay in the lead. Both teams fought hard, but the Trojans took control of the reminder of the half and ended the game with a 72-64 victory.

MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
Johnny Hughes led the Trojans with 20 points. Darius Spragley and Matthias Caver also added double-digit points with 15 and 11 points.

NORTH GREENVILLE LEADERS
Joe Conley led North Greenville with 12 points.

KEY MOMENT
The game's key moment came when the Trojans outscored NGU 21-4 to tie the game and took control the remainder of the game to take home the 72-64 victory.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive returns home to Kornegay Arena as they will host North Greenville University for game two. UMO and NGU will meet on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 2:00 P.M. in a Conference Carolinas contest.