UMO selected to host pair of nationally-televised basketball games

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on December 3, 2015 1:48 PM

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UMO Media Relations

MOUNT OLIVE -- American Sports Network has announced it will do a nationally-televised broadcast of the Limestone (S.C.) College at University of Mount Olive basketball doubleheader on Jan. 30, 2016.

It is the third consecutive year that the Trojan men's team has appeared on TV. UMO made network appearances last season at King (Tenn.) University and at Barton College in 2008. CBSSN carried both teams. The Trojans played Wingate University earlier this season that was streamed live in ESPN3.

UMO's men are 0-3 in televised games.

"We are extremely excited and fortunate to play on national television again this year," Trojan head men's basketball coach Joey Higginbotham said. "It's especially nice that we get to do it at home with the best fans in Conference Carolinas."

The Trojan women last appeared on TV in 2011 when they lost a heart-breaker at perennial powerhouse Limestone (S.C.), which advanced to the NCAA Division II final four last season.

"This is such a great opportunity for the University of Mount Olive as well as Conference Carolinas to receive national exposure," Trojan women's head coach Wendy Lee said. "We are fired up that we get to host these two nationally televised games at home on our court at Kornegay Arena."

While the basketball doubleheader is the first Trojan home event to air live on national television, it is not the first time a nationally-televised program has originated from the UMO campus. The May 2008 edition of the ESPN show "NCAA On Campus" originated from the Mount Olive campus just days before the Trojans' baseball team claimed the NCAA Division II College World Series championship.

CBSSN broadcast the final between UMO ad Ouachita Baptist.

In addition to live national telecasts, highlights of Trojan contests have been featured on national television. The Weather Channel aired two weather-related clips from UMO baseball games. And Marcus West's 80-foot buzzer beater was number one on the Jan. 10, 2004, edition of ESPN Sportscenter's Top Plays.

Mount Olive has also been featured on national television off the field of play. Samantha Mitchell was featured on ESPN when she was one of nine national finalists for the 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

The women tip off at 4 p.m.

"It will be a special day for our athletics program, basketball programs, fans and supporters," Higginbotham said. "It's going to be an exciting day of great DII basketball."