MOUNT OLIVE (Dec. 4) – For the first time since 2018-19, the Trojans have won three straight conference games to begin the season following a 95-91 win over North Greenville on Wednesday night at Kornegay Arena.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's basketball program improves to 5-2 this season with a 3-0 mark in Conference Carolinas action. The Trojans boast an 11-1 record in the series dating back to 2017, including five consecutive victories. Meanwhile, North Greenville falls to 3-6 overall behind a 1-1 record in league play.
Freshman
Chase Dawson led the team with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting while converting six-of-seven from the free-throw line. Additionally, he added two rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes on the court. Dawson earned his fourth 20-point performance of the season and paces the program with 17.6 points per game.
Off the bench, freshman
Matt Kirby contributed 14 points on six-of-eight attempts with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 17 minutes. Redshirt sophomore
Lureon Walker finished with 13 points, three rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and one steal in 24 minutes. Freshman
Raul Perez produced 10 points, two rebounds, and four assists in 18 minutes. Redshirt junior
Redford Dunton tallied nine points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 23 minutes.
Both sides exchanged baskets in the initial five-plus minutes of the first half as the contest was tied at 15-15. Mount Olive managed to establish a 22-16 edge at the 12:21 mark behind a 7-1 run before eventually stretching the lead to 32-24. The Trailblazers responded with eight unanswered points to knot the game at 32-32. NGU converted four of its final five shots to take a 40-38 advantage into halftime.
North Greenville took its largest lead of the game at the 15:13 mark of the second half with a 57-51 edge. UMO stormed back with a 14-2 run with five different players scoring and forcing a trio of turnovers to hold a 65-59 lead. The Trailblazers countered by scoring 10 of the next 12 points to reclaim the lead at 69-67 with 8:02 left to play. The Trojans would score eight straight points to regain the advantage at 75-69 before expanding the lead to 84-75 with four minutes to go. NGU closed the gap to three points with 1:24 left before Mount Olive secured the win at the free-throw line, 95-91.
Mount Olive finished the contest shooting 34-of-61 (55.7 percent) from the floor while converting 50.0 percent (9-of-18) from three-point range. Meanwhile, North Greenville posted a .440 field goal percentage (33-of-75) and made 17-of-29 (58.6 percent) from the charity stripe. The Trailblazers finished with a 43-34 rebounding advantage while scoring 42 points in the paint. The Trojans totaled 43 bench points and 36 fastbreak points.
NGU junior Savion Brown finished with a game-high 28 points on 10-of-22 shooting with six three-pointers. He added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 39 minutes. Freshman Michael Wilson, Jr. scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shots with six rebounds, and two steals in 33 minutes. Sophomore Jacob Brown posted a double-double with 15 points and 18 rebounds in 30 minutes.
The Trojans will host UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Conference Carolinas play with tip-off set for 4 p.m.
