MENS' BASKETBALL: Key free throws lift Trojans

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 25, 2017 11:07 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- The halfcourt offense may have not been executed with precision in the final 4-plus minutes Friday evening.

Free throws?

That's another story.

University of Mount Olive shot an efficient 8 of 8 from the charity stripe in the final 42.1 seconds and stunned Conference Carolinas arch rival Barton, 63-53, inside Kornegay Arena.

They meet again next Tuesday -- at Barton -- in opening-round play of the season-ending league tournament inside the not-so-friendly confines of "The Doghouse."

The Trojans led 55-45 with just over 4 minutes remaining in regulation. Head coach Joey Higginbotham, who goes just two deep on the bench, wisely utilized two short breaks in action.

"After we called a timeout, I knew the next deadball we'd get a media (timeout). Two full timeouts to rest," Higginbotham said. "If we can get a little bit of rest and stay focused, we'll win this game."

UMO threw away its next three offensive possessions.

Within a 2-minute stretch, the double-digit advantage shrank to five points.

"Horrendous," Higginbotham said of the offensive effort.

BC (19-9 overall, 14-6 CC) committed a turnover after the Trojans missed two free throws. UMO pulled down two offensive rebounds and Saiquan Jamison began a parade to the free throw line which led to a confidence-building victory.

Cameron Robinson, Armond Griebe and Jamal Matin each swished a pair of FTs. The Trojans finished with a 17-9 edge at the free throw line.

Jamison logged a double-double -- 14 points, 10 rebounds. Tyler Thomas provided 11 points and six rebounds. Matin and Tayon Gleaves contributed 10 points apiece.

"(The free throws) was the difference of us pulling away, keeping it to three or four possessions, instead of them cutting it to two possessions," Higginbotham said. "They're tough. They constantly put pressure on you when you're driving and things like that."

UMO (9-19, 8-12) denied BC's dribble penetration and held the visitors to just 24 points in the paint on 44 offensive possessions inside the 3-point arc. The Trojans scored 26 points in the paint and led 11-5 in points off turnovers.

"A great win, great team effort," Higginbotham said.