UMO: North Greenville is first focus, then Limestone on national TV

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on January 29, 2016 1:48 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Just play ball.

The University of Mount Olive men and women face Conference Carolinas foe Limestone (S.C.) on Saturday in the school's first-ever nationally-televised basketball game at Kornegay Arena.

Tip-off is 6 p.m.

Nerves sometimes overcome actors, but Trojan men's head coach Joey Higginbotham says his team will enter the game like any other.

"It is an exciting time for our college," he said. "It's exposure for our program, our athletics program and our institution. All together, it's exciting, but we're not going to approach the game any different just because it's on national television.

"We play Friday night, also. We really haven't talked about it (Saturday's game) a lot, and we won't talk about it because it really won't be much different for them. They're going to approach the game (on Saturday) as it is the most important game of the year because it is the game we are preparing for, but I don't see them approaching it any differently because there's cameras around or anything like that."

The Trojans (11-7 overall) defeated Belmont Abbey on Tuesday and play host to North Greenville (S.C.) University tonight. They're more concerned about sealing two more Conference Carolinas wins than the bright lights expected to shine on Saturday.

Dominique Reed had a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds) against Belmont Abbey. Dontrell Brite added 17 points and six assists.

"He's (Brite) been playing very good," coach Higginbotham said. "He's playing really consistent now, being a great leader. He's a special player. He's definitely one of the most gifted players in America."

Higginbotham says he has implemented new gameplans this month, and the Trojans' "offense produced by defense" mentality provides an opportunity for UMO to be successful against the Saints.

"They (Limestone) don't have the greatest record," he said. "But after they beat us -- we played them earlier this year down there -- they played really well, and we played really bad. But they're a good team, a very talented team, a very athletic team so we're going to have to play a very good 'D' to come out and get the result that we want."

Limestone's women are ranked No. 5 nationally in the latest USA Today Coaches Top 25 Division II poll. They defeated the Trojans, 86-60, just 3 1/2 weeks ago.

UMO women's head coach Wendy Lee understands the importance of a win at home -- and the attention on UMO. Like Higginbotham, she agrees that the nationally-televised broadcast is good exposure for the university and that the school feels privileged to receive the honor.

Lee doesn't want to look past tonight's game, either.

The Trojan women enter with momentum from a 21-point victory over Belmont Abbey. NGU is the next task, with Limestone -- a final four team last season -- waiting in the wings hours later.

"We know it will be a tough game," Lee said. "Obviously, it's a huge challenge before us. That way if we play at Mount Olive or there (Limestone) or on TV. or not, they're a good team. We're not preparing for television, we're preparing for Limestone."

Preparation for Limestone includes junior Arieal Johnson blocking shots, pulling down rebounds and sinking baskets. Johnson collected four blocked shots, seven rebounds and 19 points against Belmont Abbey.

UMO's focus is Belmont and Limestone.

Not the excitement surrounding the weekend.

"As a player, you love to play games. That's what it's all about," Higginbotham said. "Whatever the game is, you have to be ready to play. All and all, the ball's going to go up at 6 o'clock, and we got to do our best to play."