Mount Olive falls to Pfeiffer

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 8, 2011 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive picked its poison on defense.

Pfeiffer delivered the knockout dosage in the second half.

Vonte Eaford and Davon Gilliard buried consecutive 3-pointers during a decisive run, and the Falcons handed the Trojans a 102-90 defeat before a sparse "Pack the House" crowd at Kornegay Arena.

Mount Olive (10-10 overall) dropped to 5-7 in Conference Carolinas play.

"We just picked our poison," said Trojans head coach Joey Higginbotham. "We wanted to take the paint away and it seems like they made every big shot. We wanted them to beat us from the outside, and they did. They shot 61 percent from three (point line).

"They make you play and their game revolves so much around the whistle. It's not basketball ... twice a year where it's just stupid basketball. I hate to say it, but I'm being honest."

Constant stoppages led to 73 free throw attempts. The teams combined for 48 fouls and 181 offensive possessions in the poorly-officiated affair.

Freshman Dory Hines led three Trojans in double figures with a career-high 28 points. Brandon Allen supplied 23 points off the bench, while point guard Derek Staton knocked down 20.

Hines also dished out six assists.

"Dory is a freshman playing way above his years," said Higginbotham. "I can't put into words what he's done. He's played every position on the floor for us this year, and tonight we put him inside and he did whatever we asked.

"It's going to pay off for him in the long run."

Mount Olive led 51-46 at halftime and extended its lead to 54-46 early in the second half. Hines scored inside and Mahamed Ibrahim hit the front end of a two-shot foul.

The Trojans kept their advantage and led 65-58 when Staton drilled a 3-pointer after getting hammered by Eaford, but not getting the call. Pfeiffer scored 10 straight points and 19 of the next 23 overall to build a 77-69 advantage.

Hines and Allen hit baskets to keep it a two-possession game, but Mount Olive could get no closer. The Trojans suffered their fourth consecutive loss, and sixth defeat at home this season.

"My kids fought their tails off," said Higginbotham. "I'll go to bat with them any game. We're undermanned and we're fighting through everything."

MOC begins a three-game road swing Thursday at Belmont Abbey.