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March 28, 2024 6:16 am

Trojans defeated by Claflin

MOUNT OLIVE – Senior guard Michael Brown surpassed 1,000 career points behind a team-high 16 points on Nov. 28, as the Trojans fell by a 77-69 margin against Claflin at Kornegay Arena in non-conference action.

With the loss, the Trojans dropped to 2-5. Meanwhile, the Panthers improved to 5-0 and picked up their third straight road win.

Brown scored 16 points on five of 12 attempts, including five of seven from the free-throw line. He also added seven assists, two rebounds and two steals while playing all 40 minutes. The Virginia native reached 1,000 career points on a layup in the final minute of the second half and has scored at least 275 points in the last three seasons with the program. Brown also continues to pace the conference with 50 assists this season through seven games.

Junior Derreco Miller registered a season-high 14 points on six of eight shooting while adding four rebounds and two blocks in 31 minutes. Senior Trayvon Ferrell collected a double-double with 13 points on five of 13 from the field with 10 rebounds in 31 minutes, while senior Kaeleb Carter tallied 11 points and five rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.

The Panthers established an early 11-8 advantage in the opening five minutes after converting five of nine from the floor. The Trojans answered with a three-pointer from Carter to tie the contest at 11 with 14:31 left in the first half. Mount Olive took a 20-17 lead after four players made baskets over the next three-plus minutes before Claflin countered with a short 6-2 run to reclaim the advantage, 23-22. UMO responded with a 13-6 rally behind a trio of three-pointers to take a 35-29 lead with 2:34 left in the half. The Panthers quickly closed the gap to 37-36 before Ferrell hit a pair of free-throws, as the Trojans held a 39-36 advantage at the break.

Claflin started the second half with an 18-2 run that lasted over five minutes to take a 54-41 lead after Mount Olive converted just one field goal during that stretch. UMO trimmed the deficit to 58-51 with 8:55 left before the Panthers countered with six straight points. The Trojans mounted a 10-4 run to cut the lead to 68-61 with just under two minutes left. Both sides traded buckets down the stretch as Claflin secured the win.

UMO shot at a 41 percent clip (25 of 61) from the floor after going 12 of 14 (85.7 percent) from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Claflin finished the game shooting 43.9 percent (29 of 66) and converted 17 of 23 (73.9 percent) from the free-throw line. The Panthers held a 44-33 rebounding advantage and scored 52 points in the paint. The Trojans finished with 18 points off the bench and 12 points off turnovers.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics