PEMBROKE, N.C. (Feb. 26) – Despite a game-high 26 points from freshman
Chase Dawson on Wednesday night, the Trojans suffered a 106-70 loss at UNC Pembroke in Conference Carolinas play.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men's basketball program closes the regular season with an 11-17 overall record behind a 9-11 mark in league action. The Trojans secure the No. 9 seed in the Conference Carolinas Championship and will face No. 10 seeded Francis Marion in the first round on Sunday, March 2, on the campus of Young Harris. Meanwhile, UNCP captured the No. 1 seed after posting a 21-6 record this season with an 18-2 mark in conference play.
Dawson registered 26 points on 7-of-14 shooting while converting four-of-seven from three-point range. He also made eight-of-nine from the free-throw line, adding one steal and one block in 29 minutes. Freshman
Matt Kirby totaled 13 points on 6-of-10 attempts with three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes. Fellow freshman
Raul Perez finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and one steal in 23 minutes.
The Braves established a 12-0 advantage in the initial two-plus minutes of the contest before UMO clawed back with a 10-4 run, led by Dawson with eight points. UNC Pembroke built the lead to 24-12 at the 12:21 mark, but Mount Olive tallied six of the next eight points to trim the deficit to 26-18. With UNCP ahead by a 38-23 margin with 5:51 remaining, the sides traded baskets down the stretch with the Braves taking a 55-36 advantage into the break.
In the second half, UNCP made a perfect seven-of-seven from the field in the opening three-plus minutes to build a 70-42 lead. The squads exchanged points over the next eight minutes with UNCP maintaining a 91-60 advantage while Dawson scored 10 points during that span. UNC Pembroke ultimately claimed the divisional win with a 106-70 win on Wednesday night.
UMO shot at a 42.4 clip (25-of-59) from the floor while going 15-of-20 (75.0 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, UNCP finished the game shooting 54.7 percent (41-of-75) and converted 11-of-31 (35.5 percent) from beyond the arc. The Braves held a 46-29 rebounding advantage with 33 points off the bench. The Trojans tallied 26 points in the paint with 18 off the bench.
UNCP senior Bradlee Haskell contributed 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 30 minutes. Redshirt senior Elijah Cobb posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds while teammate JaJuan Carr recorded 17 points, two rebounds, and seven assists in 27 minutes.
The Trojans return to the court on Sunday, March 2, when they face Francis Marion at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Championship, hosted on the campus of Young Harris.
