Higginbotham: Trojans need to 'keep it simple' at Elite 8

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 24, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Stick to the basics.

Do the little things.

Just keep it simple.

That could be easier said than done.

But its the gameplan University of Mount Olive plans to execute during its quarterfinal-round game against perennial power Tarleton State (Texas) when the NCAA Division II Elite Eight tips off Wednesday afternoon.

Game time is 1 p.m.

It's the first-ever postseason meeting between the two schools that ironically advanced to the 2005 Elite Eight. Tarleton reached the Final Four that year.

"They play in a great league, the Lone Star Conference," UMO head coach Joey Higginbotham said. "They're really physical and to come out of that league and that (South Central) region, we're going to have our hands full.

"We've got to play well."

The other quarterfinal-round games are -- Indiana (Pa.) vs. Azusa Pacific, Southern New Hampshire vs. Florida Southern and Minnesota State-Moorhead against Bellarmine. Five of the teams are ranked 14th or higher in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) top 25 poll.

UMO is ranked No. 9.

Bellarmine (30-3 overall) emerged as the national champion in 2011 and advanced to the Final Four in 2012. Southern New Hampshire made consecutive Final Four appearances in 1993 and 1994.

Indiana has reached two Final Fours in 1995 and 2002.

"I definitely think anybody can win it," Higginbotham said. "Bellarmine is the team that's been there the most recent, so they probably have a little advantage. There's not one team that was in it last year, so that's good.

"You're going to have a new national champion."

Although Tarleton (30-3) doesn't have the major size as in the past, it still has a few skyscrapers around the basket. The major contributor is 6-foot-6 senior TaShawn Mabry, a native of Rocky Mount whose mother, Delphine, won two state basketball championships and was a multiple state title-holder in outdoor track at SouthWest Edgecombe HS.

Mabry averages 12.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. The backcourt of Mo Lee and Michael Hardge combine for nearly 26 points and six-plus assists an outing.

The Texans have the nation's third-best scoring defense (60.2 points) and are fourth-best nationally in 3-point shooting defense (30.0 percent). The Trojans hit nearly 38 percent from behind the arc.

"Coming from the Southeast Region, all of the teams were much bigger than us," said Higginbotham. "Hopefully we can make a few jump shots and stretch the floor out."

If UMO succeeds, it can rely on its versatility.

Six Trojans score in double figures on a team that's recorded an impressive 613 assists on 974 made field goals, which is eighth-best nationally. Dontrell Brite knocks down 13-plus points an outing and averages 5.6 assists, which is 22nd nationally.

Dominique Reed ranks ninth nationally in total blocked shots (71). Teammate Kendall Hargrove, a "Darkhorse Dunker" participant, is 15th nationally with 294 total rebounds.

Higginbotham says all the pieces are there for Mount Olive (31-3) to contend for the national crown. He's told the team about the program's previous trip to the Elite Eight and reminded them to have fun and not "treat this game as any more important than any other game."

"I don't want us to be too serious and all uptight," Higginbotham said. "I want us to play loose and keep doing what we've been doing, and see how far we can take this thing."