COLLEGE BASKETBALL: 2016 Pickle Classic

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 18, 2016 9:57 AM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Three men's basketball teams enter the 51st installment of the Pickle Classic in search of their first win -- including tournament host University of Mount Olive.

The Trojan men, who have eight newcomers on this year's squad, dropped consecutive losses to No. 18-ranked Augusta and Young Harris during the annual 45 Second Classic contested last weekend at Barton College.

But the outcomes weren't indicative of UMO's effort.

"We found out a lot about our guys this past weekend," ninth-year Trojans head coach Joey Higginbotham said. "We competed with two very talented teams. The final scores did not reflect the way we competed. We played too streaky times (and) in both games we had a four- to six-minute spell in both halves that really hurt us.

"We must improve on our team defense and rebounding."

UMO's next shot comes Friday against first-year Classic participant Georgian Court. Tip-off is approximately 30 minutes upon conclusion of the Barton-St. Augustine's contest, which begins at 5 p.m. inside Kornegay Arena. The Trojans and BC will switch opponents on Saturday with the same game times.

An all-session pass is $15. A single-day pass is $10. Children ages 4 and under are admitted free.

Higginbotham has never had a team start the season 0-3.

In fact, it's happened only once during the program's Division II era. The 1996-97 squad dropped its first six games with UMO in its second year of transition the from NAIA ranks to D2.

"We must improve in all facets of the game, come together more as a team and work to improve every day," said Higginbotham, whose team went 0-2 in last year's Classic.

"This season is a process for our young team and we need to make little improvements every day."

UMO boasts four double-figure scorers led by team captain Tayon Gleaves, who averages 16.5 points and is shooting nearly 42 percent from the floor. Newcomer Cameron Robinson is next at 13.5 and has converted 57.9 percent of his shots (11 of 19) from the floor.

Armand Griebe and DeAndre Barber chip in 11 and 10.5 points, respectively.

Georgian Court is 0-3 after falling to Chestnut Hill College in its Central Athletic Collegiate Conference opener on Wednesday. The Lions are led by 6-foot-6 senior forward Keith Hughes, who is averaging 15.7 points a game and needs just 28 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Hughes shoots 59.4 percent from the floor and snares six rebounds a game.

"We honestly don't know much about them and are gathering any and all info on game film," Higginbotham said.

Conference Carolina rival Barton is making its fourth consecutive Classic appearance and 15th overall. The Bulldogs won the 1988 Classic as then-Atlantic Christian College. They shared the 2011 title with UMO.

Senior guard RJ Claypool knocks down 10.5 points and grabs five rebounds a game for BC.

St. Augustine's returns to the Classic for the first time since 2013. The Hawks are 1-1 and led by 6-7 junior Quincy January. The Atlanta native is averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game, and hitting nearly 55 percent of his shots from the floor.

"St. Augustine's is a very athletic team that really rebounds well," said Higginbotham. "If we don't improve in that area, we will not like the result we get."

The Trojans have won three of four meetings against the Hawks.