MOC falls to Wingate

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on December 19, 2011 1:48 PM

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MOC Sports Information

WINGATE -- Mount Olive sliced a 24-point deficit down to six late in the second half, but the Trojan men's basketball team fell to in-state rival Wingate, 82-73, on Saturday evening.

Craig Hayes and Derek Staton led the Trojans with 15 points apiece.

Mount Olive trailed 58-34 with 13:02 left in the game before starting its comeback. The Trojans limited Wingate to one field goal over the next five minutes and Dory Hines' basket capped a 17-7 run to pull the visitors to within 65-51 with 7:19 remaining.

The margin grew to 16 before Staton's steal set up an Ewon Wright 3-pointer with 5:06 left to cut Wingate's lead to 67-56. Hines sank a pair of free throws with 3:51 remaining to bring the deficit down to single digits for the first time in the second half at 69-60.

Wingate (4-7) pushed its lead back to 12 points after Jaime Vaughn hit a jumper with 2:33 left to play, but Mount Olive again drew within single digits. Jordan McCain hit a three and Hines sank two more free throws to get the Trojans within 74-67 with 1:32 remaining.

After Paidrick Matilus hit 1-of-2 free throws for Wingate, Hines nailed a jumper with 1:19 left to make it a two-possession game at 75-69. Eddie Lewis answered with a layup and the Bulldogs extended the lead to nine. McCain hit another three-pointer with 46 seconds left to pull Mount Olive within 78-72.

The Trojans would get no closer.

Hines scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half, while McCain scored all nine of his points after halftime. McCain also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, six in the second half. The Trojans finished with 20 offensive boards and outrebounded Wingate 45-40.

Free throws were a difference in the game as Wingate was 21-for-29 from the line, compared to 16-for-34 for Mount Olive.

The Trojans (7-2 overall) return to action Dec. 31 at Augusta State (Ga.) University. Tip-off is 7 p.m.