D2 Southeast Regional: Montevallo presents challenge for UMO

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 17, 2015 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

HARROGATE, Tenn. -- University of Mount Olive enjoyed its day of rest Monday during the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

The Trojans slept in late.

They conducted an afternoon practice.

They even enjoyed a good team meal.

Today, it's back to business.

Mount Olive (30-3 overall) opposes regional powerhouse Montevallo (26-8) in the championship game today at Lincoln Memorial University. The winner claims the regional crown and advances to the Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind.

Tip-off is 7 p.m.

"It's a different level here and we have a different focus here," UMO head coach Joey Higginbotham said. "The guys are locked in and playing really great on both sides of the ball. We're going to have to play our best game of the year to hopefully advance."

Specifically, the Trojans have to contend with Torian Brown -- the Peach Belt Conference player-of-the-year. Brown has tallied 38 points and dished out 11 total assists in the Falcons' two wins.

Brown has received offensive help from Ryan May, who has tallied 36 points -- including 25 in a semifinal-round win over fellow PBC member UNC Pembroke.

Malik Fields has been one of the team's top rebounders all season.

"They're not a one-man show," Higginbotham said. "They've got Brown, but that's not all. They've got some big bodies and they're going to play up tempo. We have to get back in transition defense."

Mount Olive opened regional play with a nine-point win over GRU Augusta and followed that with a 20-point thrashing of top-seeded LMU. Junior Mike Moore pumped in 26 points in the semifinal-round victory, while Dontrell Brite had 16.

Defensively, the Trojans held LMU to 17 first-half points on 20-percent shooting from the field. The Railsplitters warmed up to 51.9 percent in the second half, but could never overcome the large deficit that grew to as many as 20 points on a couple of occasions.

UMO played a solid inside-out game and got several touches on the ball on each possession. The movement created shots, especially for Moore and Brite -- who combined to 16 of 28 from the floor.

"Mike took great shots, finished, moved well without the ball and got his teammates the ball," Higginbotham said. "We were patient and played together. We're playing our best basketball right now."