Trojans play host to Erskine in regular-season finales today

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 26, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Turn the page quickly.

University of Mount Olive head men's basketball coach Joey Higginbotham issued that message after Tuesday's heart-breaking, last-second loss to archrival Barton College.

There's one regular-season league game left -- tonight's home date against Conference Carolinas nemesis Erskine (S.C.).

It plans to be an emotional affair, too.

Higginbotham will bid farewell to five seniors -- preseason All-American Dontrell Brite, JaQuan Blount, Dominique Reed, John Wieland and Mike Moore. Of the quintet, Blount is the only player not to have played all four years under Higginbotham's tutelage.

Once the cameras flash to freeze the moment in time and applause is rendered, the business at hand begins. UMO seeks eliminate the rises and falls of an unusual campaign that's left Higginbotham scratching his noggin.

The Trojans (15-12 overall, 10-9 CC) reeled off six consecutive wins during the first month of the season. They lost three of the next four, then experienced a four-game win streak.

Since then, they've gone in the other direction -- 3-5, including a road overtime loss to Barton a little more than three weeks ago.

"It's a big game for us," said Higginbotham. "We need to start taking some collective steps in playing winning basketball to be ready for the conference tournament. We need to be consistent on both ends, not just one end (of the court)."

The Flying Fleet (12-13, 9-10) trailed the entire second half until the Trojans endured a 5 1/2-minute drought without a field goal. Erskine slowly shaved away at a nine-point deficit and capped off its 67-66 comeback when Joby Glymph swished two free throws with 2 seconds left on the clock.

Glymph leads the conference with 18.8 points a game. Ray Lock knocks down 14.7 points an outing. Brannon Dark scores 12.1 points, snares 6.2 boards and shoots 50.7 percent from the floor.

The trio combined for 56 points on 18 of 40 shooting from the floor in the first meeting just 13 days ago.

"Erskine is a very good team with three really good players," Higginbotham said. "They gave us fits the last time."

The Trojan women (17-10, 15-6) have clinched an opening-round tournament game at home. They'll put a season-high seven-game win streak on the line against Erskine, which is one game back in conference play at 14-7.

In their previous encounter, UMO erupted for 24 fourth-quarter points and prevailed 71-55. East Carolina transfer Felicity Havens posted a double-double -- 24 points, 11 rebounds. Daria Simmons added 19 points and Jada Bacchus scored 13.

Junior Aerial Johnson missed three consecutive games, but returned with an 18-point, nine-rebound effort in a victory over Barton on Tuesday. Johnson shot 9 of 13 from the floor during the game.

Erskine's top offensive threat is Kristin Giles, who averages 14.7 points per contest. Teammates Myranda Parham and Naomi Stuger contribute 12.2 and 11.7 points. Stuger collects 8.6 rebounds a game -- fifth-best in the league.

"This is an exciting and important game for us," UMO head coach Wendy Lee said. "We really have to continue to be focused and dedicated on the defensive end of the floor to guard for 40 minutes. We are also going to have to make an all-out effort to limit their second-shot opportunities."

Lee will honor her two seniors -- Anamaria Zjacic and Shy'Lia Buie -- prior to tip off.