MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — The University of Mount Olive men’s basketball team was unable to overcome an early deficit, falling 79-66 to Chowan on Wednesday night in Conference Carolinas action at Kornegay Arena.
The Hawks controlled the opening half, building a 42-22 lead at the break. Mount Olive responded with a much stronger showing after halftime, outscoring Chowan 44-37 in the second half, but the early margin proved too much to erase.
Redford Dunton led the Trojans with a game-high 22 points and recorded a double-double with 15 rebounds. Dunton also went 8-for-13 from the free-throw line. Raul Perez chipped in 11 points.
Mount Olive received a strong contribution from its bench, totaling 41 points, and forced 17 Chowan turnovers that led to transition opportunities. Defensively, the Trojans held the Hawks to 34.8 percent shooting. However, Chowan’s rebounding advantage and first-half efficiency were decisive factors.
The Trojans will look to build on their second-half momentum as Conference Carolinas play continues Saturday when they host Converse for Church Night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.
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