MOUNT OLIVE — A dominant performance off the bench from freshman Jaevian Alston gave the University of Mount Olive a legitimate chance down the stretch, but Ferrum College pulled away late to secure a 90–85 win Saturday afternoon inside Kornegay Arena. The Trojans now sit at 4–5 overall and 1–1 in Conference Carolinas play.
Alston turned in the best outing of his young career, posting 21 points and 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes while going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. The performance marked his first collegiate double-double and first 20-point game, continuing the momentum from his recent selection as Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Month. His spark led a UMO bench unit that outscored Ferrum’s reserves by a commanding 43–11 margin.
Jefferson McLamb added 13 points behind three timely three-pointers, while Matt Kirby contributed 11 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Shane Peterson chipped in seven points and two steals, and Christopher Brown tallied six points and a pair of assists.
Despite trailing by 10 at halftime, the Trojans roared back with energy in the second half. McLamb caught fire before the break, drilling three triples in less than two minutes, and UMO carried that momentum forward. Mount Olive used a 17–6 run to trim a 16-point deficit to just three, fueled by Alston’s interior presence and aggressive pressure defensively. The Trojans forced 14 Panther turnovers overall and converted them into 25 points.
Ferrum ultimately maintained control late thanks to standout performances from Gerren Jones (28 points) and Abdulh Diaby (18 points). The Panthers’ clutch free-throw shooting — finishing 24-of-28 — made the difference in the final minutes as UMO’s comeback effort fell short.
Mount Olive ended the game shooting 43.8 percent from the floor with 40 points in the paint and a 16–5 advantage in fast-break scoring.
The Trojans continue Conference Carolinas play on the road next Saturday, Dec. 13, facing North Greenville in Tigerville, S.C. for a 3 p.m. tipoff.
