TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MT. OLIVE PICKLE CLASSIC

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Nov. 2) – After an appearance in the quarterfinals of the league tournament last season, the Trojans were selected 10th in the preseason Conference Carolinas poll, which was released by the league office on Thursday afternoon.

The Trojans feature multiple new faces on the roster following the graduation of three starters from the previous year. Mount Olive welcomes nine newcomers to the team, including a pair of transfers. UMO posted a 13-18 overall record with a 9-11 mark in league play while reaching the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Championship. Interim Head Coach Zach Grant enters his second year at Mount Olive and first year at the helm of the program.

Mount Olive welcomes back two starters from last season, including sophomore Shane Peterson, who averaged 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game in 30 contests. He converted 73 shots beyond the arc and made 82.9 percent from the free-throw line. Redshirt sophomore transfer Redford Dunton joins the Trojans after two seasons at Purdue Fort Wayne. He appeared in seven games as a reserve for the Mastodons and expects to play a major role for the Trojans this year. Freshman Josiah Watkins enters his first year with program and was a state champion at Piedmont Classical while eclipsing 1,000 career points.

UNC Pembroke was chosen as the preseason favorite with 10 first-place votes after claiming back-to-back regular season championships behind a 26-4 overall record. Emmanuel was voted second in the poll with the remaining four first-place nods after capturing the 2023 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Tournament Championship. Conference newcomer Young Harris was slotted third overall after posting a 19-10 record in the Peach Belt Conference last season, while Belmont Abbey and Barton rounded out the top-five overall.

The 2024 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Basketball Championships quarterfinals are set for Friday, March 8 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The semifinals will be contested on Saturday, March 9, while the men's and women's basketball finals are scheduled for Sunday, March 10.

The Trojans are slated to host the 58th annual Mount Olive Pickle Classic on Nov. 17-18. UMO will face Elizabeth City State and Georgia Southwestern State over the two-day event. To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.