Trojan men suffer road defeat

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 17, 2009 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

WINGATE -- Kendrick Easley's 3-pointer pulled Mount Olive within a single point in the final minute, but in-state rival Wingate held on for a 90-85, men's college basketball victory Wednesday evening.

Easley pumped in a game-high 30 points for the Trojans, who had their four-game win streak snapped. Derek Staton flirted with a triple-double -- 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Mike Holloman finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Craig Hayes added 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor. Easley was 12-for-12 from the free throw line and the Trojans were 18-for-21 from the line as a team,

It was the first meeting between the two teams since MOC scored an 11-point upset over LRC, which was ranked No. 5 nationally, in the 2007 Pickle Classic.

The Trojans (4-2 overall) led by as many as seven points in the second half. The Bulldogs (6-4) used an 8-0 run to grab a 74-67 lead with 8:53 and never relinquished their advantage.

Hayes' tip-in with 2:21 remaining trimmed the margin to two points. After a Wingate basket, Easley's 3-pointer closed the gap to 84-83. The Bulldogs' Jamie Vaughn and Paidrick Matilus each hit two free throws in the final 21 seconds to make it a two-possession game.

Staton scored with three seconds remaining, but Vaughn capped the contest with two additional free throws.

Mount Olive returns to action Friday in the 2009 Hampton Inn and Suites Fall Finals Classic at Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) University. The Trojans face AASU at 8 p.m. Friday and battle St. Augustine's at 2 p.m. Saturday.