Trojans victorious in first two games of season

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on November 13, 2011 1:52 AM

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MOC Sports Information

GREENEVILLE, TENN. -- Freshmen Jordan McCain and Kendall Hargrove found their shooting touches down the stretch, combining for 19 points in the second half as Mount Olive staved off Anderson University, 75-67, in the second round of the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge at Tusculum University Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans defeated Tusculum 77-64 on Friday.

Anderson (1-1), a former member of Conference Carolinas all but erased a 13-point Mount Olive advantage with a 15-3 run early in the second half. A pair of free throws by Chandler Hash pulled Anderson within 45-44 with two free throws with 11:25 remaining. Anderson pulled within one point three more times before a jumper in the paint by Taylor Shugart put it ahead, 59-58 with 5:39 left.

Then McCain took over. The Woodbridge, Va. native who did not make a field goal in the Trojans' opening win over Tusculum Friday night, delivered a lay-up to put Mount Olive (2-0) back in front, then made two free throws with 4:34 left to give his team the lead again.

Anderson pulled even one final time at 62-62 with 4:19 remaining. Hargrove answered with a lay-up, then handed out an assist on a McCain three-pointer after the teams returned from a timeout. Preseason All-American Derek Staton, who led all players with 19 points, followed with a three-pointer of his own to stretch the lead to 70-62.

Anderson got a three-pointer from Nick Trull and a lay-up from Jo'el Lamb to get back within 70-67 with 1:17 left, but lay-ups by McCain and Staton put the game away.

Mount Olive built its double-digit lead with a 10-2 run to close the first half. The Trojans trailed by five early after missing nine of their first 11 attempts from the floor. Trailing, 16-15 with 7:58 left before intermission, Staton hit a three-pointer, then stole the ball and fed Hargrove for a breakaway dunk.

Staton connected on another long-range bomb, then Ewon Wright blocked an Anderson lay-up at one end and hit a three-pointer at the other to give Mount Olive a 32-22 lead at intermission.

The Trojans return to action Friday night when the Trojans host the 46th Annual Pickle Classic. The Trojans will meet Virginia State at 7:30 p.m. Barton and Virginia State will open the tournament at 5 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.