MOC Basketball

Published in Sports on February 26, 2004 1:55 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- A school-record 11-game winning streak helped Mount Olive get as high as No. 2 in the NCAA Division II East Region Men's Basketball Poll. A recent three-game losing streak dropped Mount Olive to No. 9 in the region. The Trojans hope to end the regular season with another winning streak that will get them off the "bubble" and into NCAA postseason.

Mount Olive plays its final regular season home game tonight as the Trojans play host to Coker in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference men's basketball. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at College Hall.

In between tonight's women's and men's basketball games, six senior men's basketball players will be recognized -- Sean Barnett, Johnny Galarza, Janson Greene, Brad McDougald, Carlos Simon and Marcus West.

Mount Olive (19-6, 13-5 CVAC) is coming off a come-from-behind 94-84 victory at St. Andrews Monday.

Galarza scored 22 of his season-high 25 points in the second half as the Trojans rallied from a nine-point deficit. West recorded a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Mount Olive had its best free throw shooting performance of the season, hitting 27-of-30 from the line, including its first 22 in a row. Elton Coffield added 17 points for the Trojans.

Galarza's 25 points Monday marks the highest single-game point total for any Mount Olive player this season, breaking the mark of 23 by Coffield and West. Galarza also became the eighth Trojan to record at least one 20-point game this season.

Coker (7-17, 4-14) lost 44-42 at home against Erskine Monday. Jamie Jenkins led Coker with 13 points.

Women

The Mount Olive women's basketball team got on a roll recently, winning three of four games. After suffering back-to-back losses, the Trojans hope to get back on a roll in their regular season home finale.

Seniors Ladora Charles and Brandy Smith will be honored between the women's and men's basketball games.

Mount Olive (10-15, 6-12 CVAC) is coming off a 70-57 loss at St. Andrews Monday. Latoria Harvey posted her 13th double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Teneal Boone and Brandy Smith added 10 points apiece.

The Trojans have shown an ability to come from behind, having rallied from double-digit deficits in each of their last three games. Mount Olive came back from 17 points down to defeat Queens on February 17. The Trojans also rallied from an 11-point deficit against Lees-McRae to take a lead and rallied from 10 points down against St. Andrews to tie the game late in the second half.

Coker (16-9, 12-6) is coming off a 67-57 victory at home Monday over Erskine. Selena Davis led Coker with 16 points.

Mount Olive enters tonight's contest in eighth place in the CVAC standings and the Trojans can host a first-round game Monday in the first round of the CVAC Tournament if they remain in the No. 8 spot.