MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 21) – After featuring five players with double-digit points on Wednesday night, the Trojans suffered a 91-74 loss against No. 25 UNC Pembroke in Conference Carolinas action at Kornegay Arena.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men's basketball team falls to 6-20 this season with a 5-11 record in conference play. The Braves have won nine of the last 10 meetings in the series while boasting the No. 1 spot in the KPI standings, which determines conference seeding. Meanwhile, UNC Pembroke improves to 20-5 overall behind a 14-2 mark in league action.
Freshman
Josiah Watkins scored a team-high 16 points and converted 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He also added four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 34 minutes. In 26 games this season, Watkins is averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field.
Redshirt sophomore
Redford Dunton contributed 12 points, three rebounds, and one steal in 29 minutes, while freshman
Kahlif Barnes totaled 11 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes. Sophomores
Shane Peterson and
Aaron Murphy each finished with 11 points, respectively.
UNC Pembroke opened the contest with six straight points before building a 10-4 edge in the initial three minutes of the game. The Trojans tallied five of the following seven points to trim the deficit to 12-9 at the 16:14 mark before the sides traded points over the next two minutes. Peterson delivered a four-point play on the following possession to trail 20-18 and the Trojans found success at the free-throw line to remain within striking distance of the lead. With UNCP ahead 30-26 at the 6:25 mark, the Braves scored nine straight to extend the lead to 39-26 before UMO closed the half with a 10-5 rally to trail 44-36 at the break.
In the second half, Barnes made a hook shot in the opening minute, but UNCP responded with an 11-4 run to take a 55-42 advantage with 14:16 to go. The Trojans scored eight of the following 10 points to cut the deficit to 57-50 before the teams exchanged baskets a majority of the half. UNCP held a 79-70 edge with 3:13 left before closing out the contest with a 10-4 run to capture a 91-74 win.
Mount Olive finished the contest shooting 23-of-61 (37.7 percent) from the floor while converting 72.7 percent (24-of-33) from free-throw line. Meanwhile, UNC Pembroke posted a .563 field goal percentage (36-of-64) and made 14-of-20 (70.0 percent) from the charity stripe. The Braves finished with a 40-31 rebounding advantage while scoring 62 points in the paint. The Trojans totaled 28 points in the paint and 18 points off the bench.
Redshirt junior Elijah Cobb finished with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, and three blocks in 32 minutes. Fellow junior Josh Berenbaum contributed 16 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes while teammate Bradlee Haskell registered 13 points, two rebounds, and three assists in 32 minutes. Junior JaJuan Carr totaled 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks in 30 minutes.
Mount Olive returns to Conference Carolinas action on Saturday, Feb. 24, when it travels to face Southern Wesleyan at 4 p.m.
