University of Mount Olive head women’s basketball coach Wendy Lee celebrates a second-quarter, defensive stop against Erskine College. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
First-year University of Mount Olive head men’s basketball coach Zach Grant, left, talks with Khalif Barnes during second-half play against Erskine College. Barnes scored 15 points during the Trojans’ victory over the Flying Fleet during their 42nd annual Church Night celebration Saturday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
University of Mount Olive’s Shane Peterson (13) guards Erskine freshman Max Peeler during first-half play inside venerable Kornegay Arena. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
University of Mount Olive guard Dominique Pacheco, 21, dribbles around Erskine defender Ianna Odulaja during first-half action. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Carolina Sound, directed by Lester Rector, left, performed the national anthem before the UMO-Erskine men’s basketball game. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Junior Air Force ROTC color guard presented the flags during the national anthem for the UMO-Erskine men’s basketball game. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
University of Mount Olive alumna Brandy Smith sings the national anthem before the women tipped off against Erskine. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
University of Mount Olive continued its decade-long dominance over Conference Carolinas basketball nemesis Erskine College during its 42nd annual Church Night celebration Saturday evening.
Members from more than 30 church in surrounding communities nearly filled venerable Kornegay Arena. Their presence provided an electric environment that gave both teams, who have struggled with season-long injuries, an extra adrenaline boost.
The Trojan women dominated, 71-52, in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
UMO sophomore Khalif Barnes single-handedly spearheaded a second-half, game-clinching run that resulted in a 71-63 comeback triumph on the men’s side.
Men
The Trojans converted six of nine offensive possessions midway through the opening half and cruised to an 18-point advantage, 39-21.
Erskine closed the gap to 43-31 at intermission.
UMO first-year head coach Zach Grant watched as his team’s lead dwindle to 49-46 early in the second half. The Trojans answered with a 10-5 run, only to see the Flying Fleet knot the contest at 60-60 with 8:38 remaining in regulation.
Barnes took over.
The 6-foot-7 freshman from Greensboro poured in seven of the team’s nine points, which revived a silent partisan Trojan crowd. Erskine responded with a 3-pointer.
Barnes’ layup capped the game-deciding surge. He concluded the night with 15 points, including 13 in the second half, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 28 minutes of action.
Shane Peterson collected 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals in 37 minutes. Freshman Josiah Watkins supplied nine points, two rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Aaron Murphy recorded eight points.
UMO improved to 18-6 against Erskine since 2012, including an 11-1 worksheet in home contests.
The Flying Fleet departed 3-16 overall and winless in 12 conference outings this season.
Women
UMO converted 23 Erskine turnovers into 33 points and owned a 10-point advantage in the paint during a much-needed, confidence-building win.
Reagan Hine delivered a season-best, 23-point outing on 9 of 13 shooting from the floor. Dominique Pacheco tickled the twine for a career-best 17 points and stuffed her stat sheet with four rebounds and three assists.
The Trojan women led 24-7 after one quarter.
Their lead ballooned to as much as 28 points before both head coaches elected to give their reserve players some court time. UMO earned its eighth consecutive win against the Flying Fleet and 22nd overall in 26 meetings since 2012.
Kamania Griffin pulled down six of her team- and game-high eight rebounds in the second half. Jada Priebe grabbed seven boards, while Tiandra Tucker wiped the glass for five rebounds.
Both UMO teams launch a three-game road swing at conference foe Francis Marion University on Wednesday.
