BANNER ELK, N.C. — The University of Mount Olive men’s basketball team earned a dramatic road win Saturday afternoon, fending off a late charge from Lees-McRae to secure an 87–85 victory inside Williams Gymnasium.
Mount Olive shot an efficient 55.4 percent from the field and an impressive 75 percent from three-point range, countering a strong offensive performance from the Bobcats. The Trojans controlled key areas of the game, scoring 44 points in the paint and adding 14 fast-break points to maintain pressure throughout the contest.
Shane Peterson led all scorers with 18 points, knocking down all four of his three-point attempts and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Jaevian Alston recorded a double-double with 16 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while Matt Kirby added 12 points and eight assists to help direct the offense.
The Trojans took a narrow 40–37 lead into halftime after shooting better than 55 percent in the opening half and carried that efficiency into the second half. Mount Olive leaned on its depth as the bench contributed 27 points, answering every Lees-McRae run down the stretch.
Trailing by six with just over five minutes remaining, Kirby ignited the comeback by converting two free throws before finding Peterson for a three-pointer on the next possession to pull the Trojans within two. Peterson then drew a foul beyond the arc and calmly sank all three free throws to cut the deficit to 81–79.
Following a defensive stop, Christopher Brown came up with a key steal that led to a fast-break three from Peterson, giving Mount Olive its first lead of the second half at 82–81.
The game remained tight in the final minute. After Lees-McRae tied the score at 83, Dante Kiesenhofer drew a foul at the rim and split a pair of free throws to put UMO back in front. The Bobcats briefly regained the lead with a floater in the lane, but Alston answered by sinking two clutch free throws with 18 seconds left to give Mount Olive an 86–85 edge.
Lees-McRae had one final chance, but Brown delivered a decisive defensive play, rotating over to block a potential game-winning layup. Alston secured the rebound and added a final free throw in the closing second to seal the Trojans’ 87–85 victory.
Mount Olive returns home for two games this week, hosting Belmont Abbey on Monday at 5 p.m. and UNC Pembroke on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
