Easley, Dobson pace MOC attack

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 25, 2009 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

CHARLOTTE -- Regular-season champs ... again.

Preseason All-America candidate Kendrick Easley and Aaron Dobson drained six 3-pointers apiece as Mount Olive stopped Queens University 82-68 and earned a share of its second straight Conference Carolinas regular-season crown.

The Trojans, ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Region poll, improved to 18-8 overall and 17-2 in league play this season. A victory Thursday at archrival Barton assures MOC of the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage for the conference tournament.

A loss gives the Dogs the No. 1 seed since they own the tiebreaker with a regular-season sweep of Belmont Abbey. Abbey snapped the Trojans' 10-game win streak just eight days ago.

Easley poured in a game-high 28 points, while Dobson provided a career-best 19 points. Craig Hayes contributed 12 points. Senior Mike Holloman added 10 points.

Dobson's four-point play after getting fouled on a 3-pointer gave MOC its biggest lead -- 40-19 -- with less than seven minutes remaining in the opening half. Easley said head coach Joey Higginbotham reminded the team of the Royals' comeback less than a month ago at Kornegay Arena.

"We remembered what happened the first time we played Queens and we knew we couldn't let up," said Easley. "We knew Queens is capable of coming back."

Queens (6-20, 5-14 CC) made one last run as Patrick Fox knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Royals within 56-49 late in the second half. But Dobson countered with a 3-pointer, and a flagrant foul against Queens turned a Hayes basket into a five-point play.

The Trojans led 79-58 at that point.