MOUNT OLIVE (Jan. 4) – Behind a season-high .603 field-goal percentage and 61 points in the first half, the Trojans rolled to a 106-61 victory against Southern Wesleyan on Wednesday night in Conference Carolinas play at Kornegay Arena.

With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's basketball team improves to 4-9 overall behind a 2-3 mark in conference action. UMO holds to 13-4 record in the series dating back to 2015 and eclipses 100 points for the second time this year. Meanwhile, the Warriors drop to 2-12 this season with a 2-4 record in league play.

Senior Michael Brown led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including a perfect four-of-four from three-point range. He also totaled two rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 25 minutes of action. The Virginia native collects his ninth 20-point game of the season while being one of four players in the conference to average over 20 points per game.

Fellow senior Trayvon Ferrell delivered 13 points on six-of-nine shots with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 20 minutes. Senior Kaeleb Carter reached double-figures with 12 points on four-of-seven attempts in 14 minutes, while sophomore Isaiah Bridges finished with nine points, three rebounds, and four assists in 13 minutes off the bench.

In the first half, Southern Wesleyan established an early 5-2 advantage in the opening two minutes before Brown converted a three-pointer to tie the contest at the 17:02 mark. The Trojans held a slight lead throughout the following five minutes before going on a 10-2 run, led by freshman Colin Radcliffe with six points, to take a 29-20 advantage with 9:55 left in the half. The Warriors answered with back-to-back buckets before Mount Olive mounted a 19-4 run and made six-of-seven shots, including three treys, to take a 48-28 lead. UMO closed the first half by shooting a perfect five-of-five to hold a 61-33 advantage at halftime.

Both sides traded baskets over the initial five-plus minutes of the second half before Mount Olive went on a 12-3 run to extend the lead to 83-43 with 10:19 left in the contest. Southern Wesleyan countered with five-straight points before both teams exchanged points over the next five minutes. The Trojans held a 96-61 lead with 3:01 left and finished the contest with 13 unanswered points to cruise to a 106-61 victory on Saturday.

UMO shot at a season-high 60.3 clip (38-of-63) from the floor after going 16-of-32 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, SWU finished the game shooting 43.8 percent (21-of-48) and converted 5-of-18 (27.8 percent) from three-point range. The Trojans held a 34-26 rebounding advantage and scored 47 points off the bench, while the Warriors scored 17 fast-break points.

Sophomore Raevon Allen tallied 14 points on 6-of-11 from the field in 24 minutes, while freshman Bryson Felder also registered 14 points on 5-of-13 attempts with two rebounds in 34 minutes. Junior Jamal Edmonson finished with 11 points and nine rebounds over 36 minutes in the loss.

Mount Olive begins a three-game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 7, when it travels to Belmont Abbey for conference play, starting at 4 p.m.