Mount Olive men defeat Virginia Union in overtime
By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on December 17, 2010 1:46 PM
MOC Sports Information
AIKEN, S.C. -- Derek Staton drained a free throw with seven seconds left in overtime, and Mount Olive College upended No. 23-ranked Virginia Union, 79-76, on day one of the 2010 ConocoPhillips/Quality Energy Services Classic.
The Trojans, who snapped a two-game skid, play in-state rival Shaw University at 2 p.m. today on the USC-Aiken campus.
Staton led five MOC players with 20 points. Ewon Wright added a career-high 16 points, including 12 from behind the 3-point line. Aleks Mitrovic provided eight of his career-high 10 points in the first half.
Mahamed Ibrahim finished with 10 points for the Trojans, while freshman Dory Hines added seven points, nine rebounds and six assists. Mount Olive overcame 18 turnovers and forced 18 Virginia Union turnovers.
Brandon Allen's putback knotted the game in regulation and his old-fashioned, three-point play with 22 seconds left in the extra session put the Trojans ahead for good.
The teams battled through seven lead changes in OT.
Virginia Union went on top 76-75 on a pair of free throws by Justin Ramsey with 41 seconds left. Ramsey and Byerson (game-high 34 points) combined for all of the Panthers' points in overtime.
Virginia Union missed a layup with 12 seconds left and Wright pulled down the rebound for the Trojans. Wright passed to Staton, who drew a foul with seven seconds left. Staton hit 1-of-2 free throws and Byerson missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.