MOUNT OLIVE — Mount Olive men's basketball used a well-timed second-half surge and a balanced offensive attack to defeat Coker 89–80 on Wednesday night inside Kornegay Arena. The Trojans improved to 4–4 on the year with the win.

Mount Olive placed four players in double figures, leaning on efficient shooting both inside and beyond the arc. Matt Kirby led the group with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting while adding seven assists and two steals. Raul Perez and Jefferson McLamb added 18 points each, with Perez contributing seven rebounds and McLamb going a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line.

Redford Dunton provided a major spark, scoring 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including three makes from deep. The Trojans' bench combined for 15 points in the win, with six coming from Oliver Roberts on two three-pointers.

Mount Olive shot 50.8 percent from the field (which was second best this season) and 85 percent at the line (season best), using timely free throws in the final minutes to stay in control. After a tightly contested opening 20 minutes—featuring eight ties and 11 lead changes—the Trojans tightened their defense after halftime and found key scoring stretches, outpacing Coker 40–36 in the second half.

Defensively, UMO held Coker to 7-for-20 from three while forcing 14 turnovers, converting those mistakes into 11 points. The Trojans also won the battle on the boards 33–31.

Coker was led by Zundra Jackson, who finished with 20 points, and Isayah Owens, who added 16. Despite the Cobras' strong inside scoring, Mount Olive's late-game
execution proved decisive.

Mount Olive returns to action later this week at home looking to build on the momentum from Wednesday's home victory with a 4 pm contest against the Panthers of Ferrum.