Rival teams UMO, Barton to clash in conference matchup

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on February 3, 2016 1:48 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- It isn't UNC or Duke or the Lakers and the Celtics.

It's UMO and Barton -- with just as much rivalry as any other school or dynasty.

The University of Mount Olive men and women's basketball teams travel to Barton College tonight in a Conference Carolinas matchup.

Tip off is 5:30.

"It's a great game," UMO men's head coach Joey Higinbotham said. "Both teams, both kids really enjoy it. It's a high-intensity game with a great rivalry.

It's our Duke and North Carolina."

Tonight marks the first time the teams have met this season, but the Trojans possess potential after they demolished Limeston (S.C.), 95-65, on Saturday during UMO's first nationally-televised game at Kornegay Arena.

The Lady Trojans, however, fell to Limestone on Saturday, 90-64, but UMO women's head coach Wendy Lee sees tonight's game as a chance for her team to redeem themselves and improve their record. She says a couple of her players felt the pressure of playing on national television.

"We're eventually going to recover from Saturday," Lee said. "We're kind of refocused, I feel like, and we want to be prepared for Barton, which is always a good team, and it's always a tough battle when Mount Olive and Barton play.

"I think Barton's a championship school, and there's a history between us, and we keep that kind of going every year. It's always a fun time to play."

The Lady Trojans sit at 8-5 in the Conference Carolinas, while Barton has a 6-7 record.

UMO men have a 8-4, but Barton sits at 9-3 in the conference.