Central, S.C. - Southern Wesleyan fell to the Mount Olive Trojans in a 77-71 final on Monday afternoon.

The Warriors shot 46.2% from the field in the loss. Solomon Smith led the team with 21 points and he was followed by Ta'Jay Dunlap with 11 points and Jalen Lowery with 10 points. Dunlap produced four of the team's 13 assists, while Clenzo Ross added three. Dunlap and Smith had the only steals and Hunter Davis and Ross each had one block. The Warriors had 42 rebounds on the day, led by Smith with 12 and Cameron Holmes followed with 10 rebounds.

Game Vitals

Final: Mount Olive 77, Southern Wesleyan 71

Records: Southern Wesleyan (11-8 / CC 7-4) Mount Olive (13-7 / CC 7-5)

How It Happened

Jalen Lowery put the Warriors on the board first with an early layup. Cameron Holmes and Hunter Davis would extend the Warriors lead to 6-4 following Lowery's basket. Mount Olive would pull ahead with a 3-pointer, but Ta'Jay Dunlap would find Solomon Smith under the basket for two straight layups to cut the Trojans lead to 12-10. Mount Olive added onto their lead before TJ Harvin's 3-pointer would threaten and keep Southern Wesleyan within two points. Smith would tie it at 17-17 before the Trojans regained the lead. Another 3-pointer from Harvin tied it at 22-22 before Mount Olive would counter. Turnovers would plague the Warriors late in the first half as they trailed 33-40 at the half.

Mount Olive would take a 10-point lead a minute into the second half, but Smith and Lowery would counter with back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Trojans lead to two, trailing only 42-44. Dunlap would bring the Warriors within one, but Mount Olive was able to put another double digit lead together at 55-45. Holmes and Smith immediately responded and brought Southern Wesleyan back within seven. The Trojans continued their success on offense while the Warriors were fighting to gain control of the game. Lowery would then knock down a three to give the Warriors some momentum. A pair of free throws from Dunlap and a 3-point jump shot from Smith would put the Warriors trailing 68-70 with under three minutes remaining. Mount Olive would capitalize on their possessions and free throws and would go on to win the game 77-71.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will travel to Murfreesboro, N.C. on January 25 to take on the Chowan Hawks at 4 p.m. They will return to Central on January 29 to host the Emmanuel College Lions at 7:30 p.m.