MOC men, women defeat Limestone
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on December 13, 2009 1:50 AM
MOC Sports Information
GAFFNEY, S.C. -- Kendrick Easley scored 21 of his game-high 27 points in the first half and Lamonte Theus added a career-high 22 points as Mount Olive extended its winning streak to four with an 83-74 victory over Limestone in Conference Carolinas men's basketball Saturday at Gaffney, S.C. Theus scored the Trojans' final 13 points of the first half. The contest was the Trojans' first game since November 24.
Mount Olive (4-1, 2-0 Conference Carolinas) led by as many as eight points early in the second half, but Limestone (5-2, 1-1) rallied and built a four-point advantage midway through the second half. Theus' three-pointer with exactly 10 minutes remaining pulled the Trojans within a point and his basket with 7:12 left put Mount Olive ahead to stay 65-64.
The Trojans held Limestone to a single field goal over a span of six minutes and Derek Staton's basket with 1:59 gave Mount Olive its biggest lead at 79-70. Limestone got as close as four points, but Staton and Craig Hayes combined for 4-of-4 free throws in the final 32 seconds to seal the win.
Mount Olive trailed by as many as five points early in the first half before Easley's three-pointer with 15:32 remaining gave the Trojans their first lead at 16-13. Two more three-pointers by Easley helped extend the lead to five, but Limestone used a 10-0 run to regain the lead as Danny Friend's back-to-back baskets gave the Saints a 29-24 advantage with 7:43 left before halftime.
Staton finished with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, while Hayes pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Mount Olive was 13-for-16 from the free throw line, compared to 11-for-24 for Limestone.
Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans travel to Wingate, N.C., to take on Wingate in a non-conference match-up. Tip-off is 8 p.m.
Lady Trojans Prevail
GAFFNEY, S.C. -- Brittany Miller's two technical free throws with 2:28 left to play proved to be the deciding points as Mount Olive withstood a frantic rally for a 65-63 victory over Limestone in Conference Carolinas women's basketball Saturday at Gaffney, S.C. The contest was the Trojans' first game since November 28.
Mount Olive (2-3, 2-0 Conference Carolinas) led the entire game, but the Trojans saw a 15-point first-half lead sliced down to two with just over eight minutes left in the game. Helen Moore's basket with 6:50 remaining gave Mount Olive a 62-56 lead, but that would be the Trojans' last field of the contest.
Limestone (2-4, 1-1) pulled within 63-59 and gained possession after a Trojan missed shot attempt. Limestone was called for a charging foul and a technical was assessed on the Saint bench. Miller sank both free throws on her only trip to the line to extend the Trojans' lead to 65-59.
Limestone capitalized on a Mount Olive turnover to hit two baskets in a span of 15 seconds to close within 65-63 with 1:05 remaining. Mount Olive ran the clock under 30 seconds, but Limestone regained possession after the Trojans missed a field goal attempt.
Miller and Moore led four Trojans in double figures with 12 points apiece. Fauntleroy finished with a career-high 11 points and McGee added 10 points. Andrea Jones was 3-for-3 from three-point range in the first half and finished with nine points.
Mount Olive is off until Friday when the Trojans travel to Salisbury, N.C., to take on Catawba in a non-conference match-up. Tip-off is 2 p.m.