MOUNT OLIVE — Despite a furious second-half push and multiple clutch moments in the final minute, Mount Olive came up just short in a 93–91 thriller against Winston-Salem State on Monday night inside Kornegay Arena.

The Trojans erupted for 52 second-half points, turning a back-and-forth contest into a tense finish that featured seven ties and four lead changes after halftime. Mount Olive built a 10-point lead with 12:47 remaining, fueled by hot shooting and a balanced offensive surge, but Winston-Salem State responded with a run of its own behind standout guard Tyre Boykin.

UMO refused to fold, answering every punch. Raul Perez sparked the offense with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Christopher Brown delivered one of his best outings of the season with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a trio of timely second-half buckets that kept the Trojans within striking distance.
Redford Dunton added 15 points and hauled in seven rebounds, and Matt Kirby posted a strong all-around effort with 16 points, seven assists, and several key plays that helped UMO stay locked in during its second-half surge.

Mount Olive reclaimed the lead 91–90 with 17 seconds left when Dunton buried a clutch right-wing three off a setup from Kirby. But Winston-Salem State answered at the line and escaped with the win after a late UMO turnover prevented the Trojans from getting off a final shot.

UMO shot 43% from the field and knocked down 12 threes, matching the Rams possession for possession in a high-tempo contest. The Trojans' bench was a major factor, contributing 22 points and providing consistent momentum on both ends.

Mount Olive moves to 3–4 on the season and will look to carry Monday's second-half energy into its next outing as nonconference play continues. The Trojans host Coker Wednesday night with a 7 pm tipoff. 

UMO Athletics is partnering with Make a Difference Food Pantry and DUMA Food Pantry for Wednesday's game. Bring five canned goods and receive free admission to the basketball game.