MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Nationally ranked Mount Olive (15) held off Erskine 60-45 in Conference Carolinas men’s basketball play on Saturday at Kornegay Arena. The victory advanced Mount Olive to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while the Fleet drop to 2-2 on the season and 0-2 within the conference.
The Fleet remained relatively close throughout the first half, cutting the lead to only 2 points at one time. But as the first half came to a close, Mount Olive was able to extend the lead to 9 with a score of 27-19 at the break.
Kendrick Easley and Justin Melton both hit three-pointers in the first 90 seconds of the second half and the Trojans built the lead to double digits at 33-20.
T.J. Taylor scored five straight points for Erskine to bring the margin back to single digits, but Streeter and Brown combined for 15 points during a 19-6 run to build the Trojans’ lead to 52-31 with 7:10 left in the game. The lead grew to as many as 23 points, but the Fleet were able to make a surge and cut the lead to 15 before regulation was out.
Brandon Streeter led Mount Olive with 21 points and 10 rebounds to record his fourth consecutive double-double while the Fleet were led by Jaren Curry who posted 10 points and 3 rebounds on the night.
Saturday’s contest marked only the second time in 43 games the Trojans have been held below 70 points, dating back to the 2005-06 season. The last time Mount Olive scored less than 65 points in a game was December 14, 2002, against Division I East Carolina. The 45 points allowed by Mount Olive were the Trojans’ fewest given up since a 69-43 victory over Queens February 11, 2006.
Mount Olive takes returns to action December 12 as the Trojans travel to Murfreesboro, N.C., to take on Chowan in a non-conference match-up. Tip-off is 7 p.m. Erskine hosts USC Aiken this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in non-conference action.