University of Mount Olive’s Raul Perez scores an uncontested layup while Tourran Warner from Morris College follows the play during the 59th annual Pickle Classic. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
University of Mount Olive guard Alexis Durham comes up with a steal against Morris College during their game Saturday afternoon at Kornegay Arena. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Maybe a little hunger over from a disappointing two-point loss just 24 hours earlier, University of Mount Olive started slow Saturday evening against Morris College.
In fact, the Trojans trailed by 10 at the 14-minute mark.
Was a timeout needed?
Zach Grant didn’t think so.
“I want our guys to play through that,” Grant said. “We’re going to stick to what we do. They need to figure it out, grow up fast, got a young group and I want them to play through mistakes.”
The Trojans did.
Lureon Walker’s open-court, fast-break dunk capped a 12-3 run that put UMO ahead with 8:22 before halftime. His electric play energized his teammates and a standing-room-only crowd that witnessed a 131-90 victory on day two of the 59th annual Pickle Classic.
Not surprisingly, Walker emerged as the Trojans’ leading scorer with 18 points. Six teammates registered double-figure efforts – Raeford Dunton (17), Shane Peterson (17), Kobe Jones (16), Matt Kirby (16), Rual Perez (12) and Christopher Brown (10).
The Trojans (2-2 overall) logged 44 points off turnovers, collected an eye-popping 78 points in the paint and received 68 points from its bench.
So, what turned it around?
“We stayed together,” Grant said. “Our guys were vocal about what we needed to do better. We were giving up a lot of ‘bunnies’ [second chances] at the rim because obviously we were trapping and they were getting a lot of leak outs.
“We were also getting out-rebounded, which is what we don’t need to do. Our whole goal is try to neutralize the glass. We’re small … got some injuries with ACL tears so we’re playing small this year.”
UMO induced 32 turnovers, which ignited its fast break and changed the tempo. Walker and a couple of teammates recorded highlight-reel dunks that shook the backboard.
“I was disappointed with how they started, but they bounced back,” Grant said. “We had a really tough game against Georgia Southwestern … an emotional day losing on a buzzer beater. I felt like our guys came out, forced through adversity, punched the clock and got a ‘W.’”
Trojan women cruise
Savannah McAfee pumped in a game- and season-high 26 points during UMO’s 63-46 triumph over Morris College during the 59th annual Pickle Classic on Saturday afternoon.
McAfee drained 10 of 14 shots from the floor and pulled down seven rebounds for the Trojans, who evened their worksheet at 1-1 after a season-opening road loss against Shaw University.
“We’re glad to see that,” UMO head coach Wendy Lee said of McAfee. “She’s a solid player, has just been overthinking and questioning her shot at times. Tonight, she looked shot ready and knocked down some good shots.”
The Trojans led 15-11 after one quarter.
Stingy defense and McAfee’s pin-point accuracy from behind the arc allowed UMO to extend its advantage to 35-17 at halftime.
Alexis Durham provided eight points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals. Destiny Thompson tallied six points. Jada Priebe wiped the glass for 14 rebounds, including 11 on the defensive end.
UMO scored 21 points off turnovers.
However, Lee noted that Morris had 61 rebounds, which helped lead to advantages in the paint (24-20) and second-chance putbacks (17-9).
“We’re always thankful if we can come out with a ‘W,’” said Lee, who doesn’t return a full-time starter from last year’s team. “There is a lot of growing up hat we need to do from the game. We are playing a lot of new players who haven’t played a lot together.
“From a coach’s perspective, there’s a lot of stuff we’ve got to fix, but thankful to get a win at home.”
The Trojans travel to Virginia Union on Wednesday.
They return home Saturday for a Conference Carolinas twinbill with newcomer Shorter (Georgia) College. Tip-off is 2 p.m. inside Kornegay Arena.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
