MOC-Belmont Abbey

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 4, 2010 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

BELMONT -- Kendrick Easley's tip-in in the final 74 seconds preserved Mount Olive's 70-65 victory over in-state rival Belmont Abbey on the Conference Carolinas men's basketball scene Wednesday evening.

Easley and Craig Hayes tallied 16 points apiece and combined for the Trojans' final nine points of the game. Mount Olive (16-4 overall, 13-0 CC) extended its win streak to 11.

Easley entered the game just 30 points shy of the 2,000-point career mark and has 1,986 during his four-year stint with the Trojans. Teammate Mike Holloman added 11 points and shared game-high rebounding honors (seven) with teammate Derek Staton.

Staton passed out five assists.

Belmont Abbey benefited from a four-minute, MOC scoring drought and grabbed a 65-64 lead on Kyle Phillips' layup with 1:44 left in the game. Hayes missed a jumper on the Trojans' next possession, but Easley's tipped in the putback.

Easley blocked a shot and Hayes converted to put MOC up 68-65 with 17 seconds to go. The Crusaders misfired on a game-tying 3-pointer and Easley buried two free throws to secure the road win.

Mount Olive, ranked No. 5 in the Division II Southeast Region poll, is the guest of Anderson on Saturday.

Trojan women 65

Belmont Abbey 60

BELMONT -- Shequanta McGee drained 4 of 4 free throws in the final 10 seconds, and Mount Olive slipped past Belmont Abbey 65-60 in their Conference Carolinas women's basketball game Wednesday evening.

The Trojans remained unbeaten in seven league road contests this season and earned their first-ever, regular-season sweep over the Crusaders since moving to Division II in 1995.

Helen Moore, who grabbed eight rebounds, led four MOC players in double figures with 16 points, while McGee added 14. Laporsha Davis contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists.

Brittany Miller chipped in 10 points.

Abbey used a 17-2 run to slice Mount Olive's 19-point lead to a single point with 43 seconds to go in regulation. The Crusaders had a chance to play for the winning basket after a Trojan miscue, but Moore forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds pass.

McGee sealed the outcome at the charity stripe.

Mount Olive (10-9 overall, 9-5 CC) travels to Anderson on Saturday.