MURFREESBORO, N.C. (Dec. 14) – Despite 49 combined points from redshirt sophomore
Lureon Walker and freshman
Chase Dawson, the University of Mount Olive men's basketball fell by a 109-104 margin at Chowan on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action.
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 5-5 overall behind a 3-2 record in league play. Chowan has won four of the previous five meetings in the series with the two sides set for a rematch again in early February 2025. Meanwhile, the Hawks improve to 5-4 this season with a 2-1 mark in conference action.
Walker matched a career-high with 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting while totaling three rebounds, one assist, and three steals in 29 minutes off the bench. Dawson continued his stellar freshman campaign after scoring 24 points on 10-of-16 attempts with two assists and two steals in 33 minutes. Redshirt junior
Redford Dunton finished with 13 points, three rebounds, and one assist in 20 minutes. Freshman
Raul Perez contributed 12 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block in 20 minutes off the bench.
Chowan built a quick 16-10 advantage in the opening three-plus minutes before the Trojans countered with an 11-4 rally after converting a perfect five-of-five from the field to hold a 21-20 edge. With the contest tied at 36-36, Mount Olive regained a 44-41 lead, led by Walker with four points with 5:44 remaining. The Hawks responded with nine unanswered to take a 50-44 advantage, but the Trojans closed the gap to 54-50 with 1:35 to go. After exchanging points in the final moments, Chowan took a 60-56 edge into halftime.
In the second half, the Hawks stretched the lead to 78-64 in the initial six-plus minutes before Mount Olive raced back with 11 consecutive points, led by Walker with seven to close the gap to 78-75. Chowan continued to hold the lead as the Trojans remained within striking distance before taking a 96-93 lead behind a pair of three-pointers from Walker and Dunton. The game was tied twice down the stretch before the Hawks made a clutch jumper with 1:11 left to take a 103-101 edge. Despite a late three-pointer from Dunton, Chowan sealed the contest at the free-throw line, 109-104.
UMO shot at a 53.4 clip (39-of-73) from the floor while going 17-of-18 (94.4 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Chowan finished the game shooting 61.7 percent (37-of-60) and converted 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) from three-point range. The Hawks held a 36-20 rebounding advantage with 48 points in the paint, while the Trojans scored 51 points off the bench.
Chowan senior Daylan Askew scored a game-high 30 points while adding two rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block in 39 minutes. Senior Aaron Ross finished with 22 points, three rebounds, and two assists in 31 minutes. The Hawks featured three additional players in double-figures, including RJ Wilson with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks in 34 minutes.
Mount Olive continues Conference Carolinas play on the road when it faces Emmanuel on Tuesday, Dec. 17, starting at 4 p.m.
