UMO unveils basketball teams during annual "Meet the Coaches" night

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 27, 2015 1:48 PM

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Battle of the sexes

Defending 3-point shootout champion John Wieland defeated teammate -- and newcomer -- Grant Dickinson in a tie-breaker after each drained nine 3-pointers.

Wieland won the rematch 2-0.

Ni'Ya Styles won the women's shootout.

"Ni'Ya, I know you've had some rest, so take it easy on him, don't hurt him too bad," eighth-year head men's basketball coach Joey Higginbotham said.

Styles won 7-6.

A "darkhorse" winner

Once the 3-point shootout ended, Higginbotham introduced the contestants for the dunk competition -- defending champion Mike Moore, senior JaQuan Blount and a surprise special guest, Kendall Hargrove.

Each player had two dunks that needed to be completed in 30 seconds. Hargrove received a perfect score -- a pair of 40s -- from the panel of four judges. Moore and Blount had 75 points apiece.

Hargrove emerged as the champion.

The ring, please

During introductions, players on the men's basketball team received their Southeast Regional championship rings.

Eight players, including five seniors, return off of last year's team that set a single-season school record for wins (31) and advanced to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history.

New faces make impact

East Carolina transfer Felicity Havens shot 6 of 9 from the floor and scored 16 points as the Green women's team defeated the White team, 33-30.

Returning starter Arieal Johnson pumped in 12 points and blocked four shots for the White team. Freshman Jada Bacchus contributed eight points.

"We had some new faces step up today and make their presence known," said 18th-year head women's basketball coach Wendy Lee. "That's what we're asking of them, come in (and) compete and put their best out there. I thought Felicity obviously shot the ball well.

"Then our freshman, for the other team Jada Bacchus, had some clean up plays around the rim. As a freshman, it's not easy to go in there and put your nose in the paint. She plays a lot bigger than what she is."

Bacchus' height is not listed on the roster.

Men's newcomers

Higginbotham, so far, has liked what he's seen from his two prized freshmen -- Mykel Hart and Jacque Brown. Hart led Kinston to the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A state title, while Brown helped East Carteret win the 1-A crown.

"They're doing good," Higginbotham said. "Mykel, his defense is a little bit ahead of his offense. Jacque's learning how to play without the basketball, he's had the ball in hands so much his whole career.

"They're both very talented kids, better people. They're like sponges right now. They better they get, that makes us that much better, too, so that's what I'm excited about."

A Brite start

A preseason All-American selection by two publications, senior Dontrell Brite led all scorers with 15 points, and paced the Green team to a 36-22 win over the White.

The Green team scored the first 13 points of the exhibition game, which was part of the fifth annual "Meet the Coaches" night sponsored by Southern Bank.

James Rucker led the White squad with 11 points.

Green team member Dominique Reed blocked a pair of shots.

Season openers

The men's team launches its 2015-16 campaign Nov. 13 against USC Aiken in the annual 45-Second Classic hosted by Barton College.

The Trojans play Young Harris the following day.

UMO's women tip off their season Nov. 13 against Catawba at the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge in Charlotte. Lee's team faces former conference foe Queens University of Charlotte on the second day.

Each team opens the home portion of its season during the 50th annual Pickle Classic.