Blount's 3-pointer helps Trojans deny Bobcats' upset bid

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on January 24, 2015 11:27 PM

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UMO Media Relations

MOUNT OLIVE -- JaQuan Blount delivered the game-winning 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds to go, and No. 16-ranked University of Mount Olive escaped in-state Conference Carolinas men's basketball foe Lees-McRae, 85-82, in overtime Saturday afternoon.

Blount scored 15 points for the Trojans, who snapped the Bobcats' six-game win streak. Dominique Reed recorded a double-double (24 points, 12 rebounds) and blocked five shots.

Jordan McCain contributed 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Kendall Hargrove added 11 points and six assists. Dontrell Brite passed out a game-high seven assists.

The lead changed hands four times in OT.

UMO seized an 82-80 lead on McCain's driving layup off an assist from Hargrove. The Bobcats notched the equalizer on Jacqueise Moore's layup with 1 second left on the shot clock.

The Trojans called a timeout with 15 seconds to go.

After working the ball around the perimeter, Brite passed from the top of the key to Blount in the left corner. Blount hit nothing but net.

L-MC's last chance to force a second OT bounced off the rim.

Mount Olive (18-2 overall, 11-1 CC) returns to action Wednesday at Limestone (S.C.) College.

Women's basketball

MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive converted 31 points off Lees-McRae turnovers and cruised to an 80-38 victory on the Conference Carolinas women's basketball scene Saturday afternoon.

Tomarrah Harris led four Trojans in double figures with 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting from the floor. Shylia Buie knocked in 13 points and pick-pocketed the Bobcats for four steals.

Ty Wallace contributed 10 points and eight rebounds. Arieal Johnson's streak of five consecutive double-doubles ended with a six-point, 11-rebound performance.

UMO out-rebounded L-MC, 53-25, and had 22 team assists on 30 made field goals.

Rachel Fehl and Harris combined to hit 4 of 4 free throws in the final 15 seconds, and sealed the University of Mount Olive's 59-57 triumph over King (Tenn.) University on Friday evening.

Johnson recorded her fifth consecutive double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds. She also dished out five assists and blocked five Tornado shots. Fehl provided a career-high 13 points. Wallace just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

UMO owned a 45-33 edge on the boards.

The Trojans (8-11 overall, 6-7 CC) travel to Limestone on Wednesday. The Saints are ranked No. 6 in the latest USA Today Division II top 25 coaches poll.

Men's volleyball

DUE WEST, S.C. -- Defending Conference Carolinas champion Erskine (S.C.) College knocked University of Mount Olive from the unbeaten ranks 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-12 on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman hitter Peyton Schirman delivered a 13-kill performance for the Trojans, who suffered their first league defeat in four outings this season. Andrew Sydow and Poole contributed 11 and seven kills, respectively.

Erskine held UMO to a .156 hitting percentage and held a 61-46 advantage in total kills. Each team served five aces.

Libero Josh Donahue paced the Trojans' defense with 17 digs. Tyler Yanez had seven digs and handed out 40 of the team's 43 assists. Schirman logged six digs.

One night earlier, Schirman established a new career high with 17 kills in a 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 sweep of Limestone (S.C.) College. Bret Rutledge collected 12 kills.

Yanez finished with 45 assists, nine digs and three blocks. Libero Josh Donahue posted a match-high 18 digs. Hollevoet cranked out nine kills, while Mann had three blocks.

The Trojans (3-2 overall, 3-1 CC) continue a five-match road swing Friday at No. 15-ranked Penn State. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 7-0 and have never played UMO on the road.