UMO men seek 1st Pickle Classic title since 2011

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 21, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Since 1984, the University of Mount Olive has hoisted the Pickle Classic championship trophy on 21 occasions -- most recently in 2011.

Getting No. 22 isn't going to be an easy chore.

The Trojan men's basketball team, ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region poll, tips off the 49th installment against defending champion Virginia State University today. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.

Barton faces Bluefield State (W. Va.) in the opener at 5 p.m.

UMO and Barton will switch opponents on Saturday. Before those four teams take the court for the night session, the Trojan women open their home season with a noon tip-off against in-state foe UNC Pembroke.

The two-day, six-team affair is part of the annual alumni weekend and UMO Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The Trojans launched their campaign with three consecutive road games and emerged with a spotless (3-0) worksheet. Five players average double figures in scoring -- Jordan McClain (15.7 points), Kendall Hargrove (15.0), Dontrell Brite (13.0), Dominique Reed (12.0) and Jaquan Blount (10.0).

Hargrove snares 9.7 rebounds a game.

"We playing OK for the month of November," UMO head coach Joey Higginbotham said. "(We) still have a ways to go, but we are making strides each day in the right direction. I'm really impressed with our 'team first' attitude."

The four participants have combined for 16 NCAA tournament appearances. VSU is making its third Classic appearance in the last four years, Barton has played in five Classics since 2008 and Bluefield State is back at Kornegay Arena for the first time since 2004.

Bluefield (1-0 overall) opened its season with a 104-73 triumph over WVU-Parkersburg. Junior guards Mark Durgan and Dajon Reno combined for 59 points on 20 of 33 shooting from the floor.

Freshman guard Austin Henderson chipped in 14.

"(They) have been an up-tempo team in the past and had some really talented scoring guards," said Higginbotham.

Virginia State (1-1) has one of the nation's top guards -- Lamar Kearse. The 6-foot-1 senior is averaging 19 points a game. Teammate Troy Locke, a freshman forward, has provided 9.5 points an outing.

Senior center Alphonso Leary and freshman Tyler Peterson contributed 7.5 points per game. Leary is the team's top glass cleaner with 7.5 rebounds per contest.

"Virginia State is a big athletic team that is always well-coached," Higginbotham said.

Perennial Conference Carolinas contender Barton enters the Classic with a 2-1 mark. Freshman guard Danny Shand leads three Bulldogs in double figures with 20.3 points game. Sophomore Kendall Patterson scores 11 points, while junior Dominique Byrd almost averages a double-double -- 10.3 points and 7.7 rebounds.

The Bulldogs shared the 2011 Classic crown with UMO.

"Barton, as always, will play extremely hard and be really deep in their rotation," Higginbotham said. "(Head) Coach (Ron) Lievense does a great job of getting his team prepared."