MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The King University men's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack on Saturday evening to earn a road Conference Carolinas win at the University of Mount Olive.
Darron Howard knocked down a pair of free throws in the waning seconds to help the Tornado to the 81-78 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 81, Mount Olive 78
LOCATION: Korneagy Arena; Mount Olive, N.C.
RECORDS: King 6-15, 5-9 Conference Carolinas; Mount Olive 8-15, 6-9 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The Tornado got off to a hot start as a Brandon Lamberth jump shot and Michael Mays triple gave King an early 5-0 lead.
- Mount Olive came back and took a 13-12 lead before a Myles McCrary layup gave the lead back to the Tornado.
- Jordan Akal followed with a triple before a Mount Olive basket pulled the Trojans within one.
- However, King responded with a 9-0 spurt started by a McCrary basket and Jaylen Bernard triple.
- King took a 26-16 lead following two more McCrary baskets with six minutes remaining in the half.
- The Trojans then scored seven consecutive points to pull within three as the teams started to trade baskets for the remainder of the half.
- The Tornado held the advantage and Lamberth beat the buzzer to give King a 39-35 lead at the break.
- King shot 60.7 percent in the opening half while holding the Trojans to a 35.0 field goal percentage.
Second Half
- Mount Olive scored the first five points of the half, to take a lead, but it was short lived as Howard responded with a layup for the Tornado.
- Mays and Kenny Turner added baskets to stretch the King lead back out to 45-40 before the teams traded points.
- Mount Olive would pull within one, but each time the Tornado would respond with a basket.
- Following a tie at 57, King went on an 11-2 run, including seven straight to take a 68-59 lead following a Lamberth triple midway through the period.
- The King lead stretched back out to five following a three-point play from McCrary, but the Trojans came back and pulled within 73-72 before back-to-back Mays baskets.
- Mount Olive again pulled within one, but Mays came up with a basket with one minute remaining.
- After a pair of Trojan free throws, Howard made two free throws to give King an 81-78 lead with 13 seconds remaining.
- The Trojans final attempt was off the mark as King escaped with the 81-78 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mays led the Tornado with 15 points while Lamberth and McCrary added 13 points apiece.
- McCrary went 6-for-8 from the field.
- Howard added nine points and six rebounds while Bernard chipped in with nine points and five rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Michael Brown led Mount Olive's four scorers in double figures with 21 points while Shane Peterson added 15 points.
- Trayvon Ferrell and Kaeleb Carter added 12 points each. Carted snared a game-high eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
- King stays on the road to face Belmont Abbey College at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday night.
- Mount Olive travels to Chowan University on Wednesday night.
