Trojan Men's Basketball Defeats Coker

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 8, 2004 2:00 AM

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HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Marcus West scored 20 points and Sean Barnett added 17 points as No. 20 Mount Olive College defeated host Coker 70-46 in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference men's basketball Thursday at Hartsville. The win was Mount Olive's 12th in its last 13 games and keeps the Trojans alone in second place in the CVAC standings.

Mount Olive (15-3 overall, 9-2 CVAC) took an early six-point lead before Coker (5-11, 2-8) pulled within 15-13 with 9:35 left in the half. The rest of the half belonged to the Trojans as Barnett converted a three-point play to ignite a 17-3 run as Mount Olive's defense limited Coker to one field goal the rest of the half. Coker shot only 23.1 percent (6-for-26) from the field as Mount Olive led 32-16 at halftime.

Mount Olive built the lead to 18 points early in the second half before Coker pulled within 41-27 with 13:32 remaining. But Elton Coffield scored the next five points and the Trojans were never threatened. Mount Olive went on a 16-4 run to take its biggest lead at 62-34 with 7:17 remaining.

Coffield finished with 11 points, while Barnett came within one rebound of recording a double-double, pulling down nine boards. Barnett also shot 7-for-10 from the field. Maurice Horton, who ranks seventh in the CVAC in steals per game, recorded a season-high five steals and matched a season-high with eight rebounds. Jamie Jenkins led Coker with 12 points.

Mount Olive returns to action Saturday as the Trojans travel to Erskine in CVAC action. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at Due West, S.C. Mount Olive held off Erskine 68-60 in January in the previous meeting between the two teams. Barnett and Sharome Holloway led a balanced attack with 11 points apiece. Erskine (8-10, 4-8) fell 76-58 Thursday at Anderson.

Lady Trojans outshot at the line by Coker

HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Sara Steffen scored 15 of her career-high 22 points in the first half to lead host Coker to a 75-62 victory over Mount Olive College in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference women's basketball Thursday at Hartsville. Coker hit 28-of-31 free throws, while the Trojans went 6-of-9 from the line.

Mount Olive (7-11 overall, 3-8 CVAC) trailed by 18 with 2:33 left in the game before making a late rally as Brandy Smith hit a pair of three-pointers to spark a 10-2 run and pull the Trojans within 70-60 with 34 seconds remaining. But Coker hit 5-of-6 free throws to halt the Trojans' rally. Smith, who is averaging 17.5 points in her last four CVAC games, scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the second half.

The Trojans held an early three-point lead, but Steffen's three-pointer tied the game 9-9 with 15:38 left in the first half and Shamae Hemingway's basket put Coker (11-6, 7-3) ahead to stay. Coker closed the half with an 8-2 run to take a 39-27 halftime lead.

Smith's three-pointer with 15:44 remaining pulled Mount Olive with 45-36, but Hemingway answered with a layup and Coker led by double figures the remainder of the game. The Cobras took their biggest lead at 68-50 before Smith sparked the Trojans' late rally.

Ladora Charles scored 16 points for Mount Olive, while Teneal Boone finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. Hemingway tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds for Coker.

Mount Olive is off today, then makes a second trip south of the border Saturday as the Trojans travel to Due West, S.C., to face Erskine in a CVAC match-up. Mount Olive handed Erskine its first conference loss of the season in the first meeting between the two teams as the Trojans defeated the Flying Fleet 70-54 in January at College Hall. Charles led four players in double figures with 22 points. Erskine (9-10, 5-7) stunned Anderson 88-76 Thursday. Saturday's game tips off at 4 p.m.