Trojans prepare to fave archrival

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 29, 2010 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Less than two weeks into the college basketball season, Mount Olive faces its biggest measuring stick Tuesday evening.

The Trojans visit archrival Barton College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Dog House.

A change in Conference Carolinas scheduling this season put the two perennial powerhouses playing each other in late November. They usually meet each in late January and in late February with postseason ramifications on the line.

And don't think this isn't a big one.

Mount Olive, which has garnered some preseason attention in the Division II national polls, is unbeaten in three outings -- by a combined 10 points. Barton is 4-2 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Brandon Allen is the Trojans' top scorer at 19.3 points a game. Derek Staton is knocking down 13 points a game, while Kason Cheeks is contributing 10 points and a team-best 6.7 rebounds per contest.

Newcomer Dory Hines is next at 9.7 points and 5.7 boards.

It's the first road game of the season for MOC, which swept the Dogs last year on the way to its third straight Conference Carolinas regular-season championship.

Jaren Haley has the emerged Barton's top offensive performer this season, averaging 12.8 points. He scored 22 in the Dogs' 111-99 loss to Florida Tech. Gerald Boston and L.J. Dunn score 10.8 and 10.3 points, respectively.

On the women's side, Barton (4-1 overall, 1-0) enters the contest on the heels of its first loss of the season. The Dogs suffered a 26-point blowout loss to Catawba.

Jamila Johnson is Barton's lone scorer in double figures with 15.4 points a game.

Meanwhile, injury-riddled Mount Olive (2-2) hopes to change its momentum after a 17-point loss to Lincoln Memorial on Saturday. Andrea Jones scored 16 points in her return after missing a couple of games with an ankle injury.

Senior redshirt forward Jasmine Whitby is the Trojans' top scorer at 15 points a game. Senior guard Laporsha Davis and Jones are also in double figures for MOC.

The women's game tips off at 5:30 p.m.