Trojans roll past Southern Wesleyan
MOUNT OLIVE – Behind a season-high 60.3 field-goal percentage and 61 points in the first half, the Trojans rolled to a 106-61 victory against Southern Wesleyan on Jan.4 in Conference Carolinas play at Kornegay Arena.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men’s basketball team improved to 4-9 overall with a 2-3 mark in conference action. UMO holds a 13-4 record in the series dating back to 2015 and eclipsed 100 points for the second time this year. Meanwhile, the Warriors dropped to 2-12 this season with a 2-4 record in league play.
Senior Michael Brown led all scorers with 22 points on eight of 10 shooting, including a perfect four of four from three-point range. He also totaled two rebounds, four assists and one steal in 25 minutes of action. The Virginia native collected his ninth 20-point game of the season while being one of four players in the conference to average more than 20 points per game.
Fellow senior Trayvon Ferrell delivered 13 points on six of nine shots with six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 20 minutes. Senior Kaeleb Carter reached double figures with 12 points on four of seven attempts in 14 minutes, while sophomore Isaiah Bridges finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists in 13 minutes off the bench.
In the first half, Southern Wesleyan established an early 5-2 advantage in the opening two minutes before Brown converted a three-pointer to tie the contest at the 17:02 mark. The Trojans held a slight lead throughout the following five minutes before going on a 10-2 run, led by freshman Colin Radcliffe with six points, to take a 29-20 advantage with 9:55 left in the half. The Warriors answered with back-to-back buckets before Mount Olive mounted a 19-4 run and made six of seven shots, including three treys, to take a 48-28 lead. UMO closed the first half by shooting a perfect five of five to hold a 61-33 advantage at halftime.
Both sides traded baskets over the initial five-plus minutes of the second half before Mount Olive went on a 12-3 run to extend the lead to 83-43 with 10:19 left in the contest. The Trojans held a 96-61 lead with 3:01 left and finished the contest with 13 unanswered points.
UMO shot at a season-high 60.3 percent clip (38 of 63) from the floor after going 16 of 32 (50 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, SWU finished the game shooting 43.8 percent (21 of 48) and converted 5 of 18 (27.8 percent) from three-point range. The Trojans held a 34-26 rebounding advantage and scored 47 points off the bench, while the Warriors scored 17 fast-break points.
— From University of Mount Olive Athletics
