CENTRAL, S.C. — The University of Mount Olive men’s basketball team delivered a gritty, high-scoring performance Friday evening, pushing Southern Wesleyan to overtime before falling 107–102 at Tysinger Gymnasium.
Mount Olive turned in one of its best shooting performances of the season, knocking down a season-high 16 three-pointers and shooting 47.1 percent from beyond the arc, the second-highest mark this year and the best in a game with 10 or more made threes. Four Trojans finished in double figures.
Jefferson McLamb led the way with 22 points, hitting six three-pointers while adding five assists. Shane Peterson followed with 21 points, connecting on seven of his 11 shots, all from three-point range. Matt Kirby added 16 points and six assists, and Jaevian Alston chipped in 15 points and five rebounds off the bench.
The Trojans came out firing offensively, scoring 37 first-half points and taking a 37–35 lead into the break. Mount Olive shot 42.9 percent from three-point range in the opening half and led for more than 14 minutes.
The second half featured back-and-forth runs, with neither team able to gain separation. Mount Olive drained nine three-pointers after halftime and erased multiple deficits late in regulation. Kirby’s pull-up jumper in the lane gave the Trojans a 91–89 lead, but Southern Wesleyan answered on the next possession to force overtime.
In the extra period, Mount Olive briefly reclaimed the lead on a Peterson three-pointer with 1:50 remaining. Southern Wesleyan responded with key second-chance points and strong free-throw shooting, going 8-for-9 at the line in overtime to close out the win.
Mount Olive returns home Wednesday night, hosting Francis Marion at 7 p.m. in conference action.
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