Missed free throws haunt Mount Olive men

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on January 9, 2014 1:48 PM

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astevens@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive climbed back into the ballgame against King University on Wednesday evening, but came up short due to one glaring reason -- free throws.

The Trojans shot 12 of 31 from the line during an 87-80, double-overtime loss to the Tornado in Conference Carolinas play at Kornegay Arena.

Jordan McCain led Mount Olive with a career-high 24 points and Dontrell Brite added 15. Ewon Wright and Kendall Hargrove had 11 points apiece.

Mount Olive entered the game shooting 63 percent from the foul line as a team. But the Trojans shot just 10 of 25 from the stripe in the second half and overtime periods combined.

"It got to the point in a tight game and we've got some guys that were struggling from the free throw line and (King) put those guys on the line," Trojans' head coach Joey Higginbotham said. "We can't shoot 38 percent from the free throw line. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. There's not an instant fix, but it's just like anything else if you want to be good at it you've got to dedicate yourself."

The Tornado went 6 for 6 from the throw line in the second overtime and finished 16 for 23 for the game. Hunter LeVeau sank four free throws in the final 42 seconds to seal the win for King, which improved to 6-8 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

LeVeau finished with 20 points.

Mount Olive had an opportunity to tie the game in the second extra session, but Wright's 3-pointer was off the mark.

The Trojans (8-5, 2-1) lacked a crispness on both ends of the floor early in the game. Mount Olive missed seven of its first 12 shots and turned the ball over five times in the first five minutes.

Higginbotham's team constantly rotated late multiple times on defense and King took advantage. CJ Good and Logan Lyle each knocked down a 3-pointer during a 13-0 run that helped the Tornado build a 27-10 lead.

"Give credit to King, but we weren't ready to play the first four minutes," Higginbotham said. "We were just hoping to make a couple of shots. I was proud of the guys with their fight. It was just the little things."

Mount Olive found its rhythm offensively late in the opening half.

The Trojans improved their ball movement and began to find open shooters. Brite's 3-pointer capped an 11-2 run and pulled the Trojans to within 32-27 at the half.

In the second half, Mount Olive worked the ball into the paint and earned chances at the free throw line. The attacking strategy helped open the perimeter, which allowed McCain to knock down 3-pointers on consecutive possessions and put the Trojans ahead 45-41.

King kept the game close with hot shooting beyond the arc. Lyle drained back-to-back 3-pointers, which cut the deficit to 65-62. LeVeau's 3-pointer with 72 seconds left pulled the Tornado to within 66-65.

Scottie Hendricks' 3-pointer off a Mount Olive turnover briefly gave King a 68-66 lead with nine seconds left. Brite calmly sank two free throws with four seconds to play on the Trojans' next possession.

Mike Moore's block on the Tornado's final possession of regulation helped force overtime.