Mount Olive's six-game winning streak snapped

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 5, 2012 1:53 AM

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MOC SPORTS INFORMATION

BELMONT -- Mount Olive cut a 20-point deficit down to a field goal over the final nine minutes, but the comeback fell short as the Trojans had their six-game winning streak come to an end with an 83-77 loss to Belmont Abbey in Conference Carolinas men's basketball on Saturday.

Craig Hayes scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, hitting 11-of-13 field goals after halftime.

Mount Olive (14-7, 7-4 Conference Carolinas) trailed 68-48 with 9:11 remaining before back-to-back baskets by Hayes and a three-pointer by Ewon Wright triggered a 9-0 Trojan run. Belmont Abbey (13-7, 7-3) built the lead back to 14, but Kendall Hargrove's three-point play with 4:26 left to play pull Mount Olive within 75-66 and the margin stayed in single digits the rest of the way.

Free throws by Tyshawn Good and Terrone Sheffey helped the Crusaders maintain a three-possession lead until Wright knocked down another three-pointer to pull Mount Olive within 79-75 with 1:57 left. Belmont Abbey turned the ball over and Hayes' basket with 49 seconds left made it a 79-77 game.

Sheffey ended Belmont Abbey's six-minute field goal drought with a short jumper with 26 seconds left and Kyle Phillips blocked a Trojan shot to help seal the win. Good added a pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining.

In the first half, Mahamed Ibrahim canned a pair of three-pointers 28 seconds apart to give Mount Olive a 19-15 lead with 13:02 remaining. Belmont Abbey rallied to tie and Darryl Durham's layup with 8:38 left put the Crusaders on top for the remainder of the game at 27-25.

Derek Staton's jumper with 5:11 left pulled Mount Olive within 36-33, but the Trojans would be held without a field goal the remainder of the half. Belmont Abbey closed out the half on an 11-2 run to take a 47-35 halftime lead.

Belmont Abbey continued its run and stretched the lead to 16 as Good and Matthew Graves opened the second half with baskets for the Crusaders. Mount Olive was held to a three-pointer over a four-minute span as Belmont Abbey extended the margin to 20 before Trojans' frantic rally.

Ibrahim finished with 15 points for Mount Olive, while Staton added 12 points and five assists. Hayes was 13-for-18 from the field for the game.

Good was 7-for-7 from the free throw line for Belmont Abbey and finished with 20 points. Graves added 13 points and eight rebounds.

Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans play host to Pfeiffer in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.