Mount Olive, NC – Southern Wesleyan picked up their third victory of the season as they defeated the University of Mount Olive Trojans in a 77-74 final score on Saturday evening.
 
The Warriors shot 52.7% from the field and 52.2% from beyond the three point line.  Demarcus Addie led the team with 35 points during the game.  He was followed by Arusha Hunter with 13 and Ta'Jay Dunlap with 12.  The Warriors had 15 assists with Dunlap leading the team with five.
 
Southern Wesleyan posted 31 rebounds.  Dunlap led the Warriors with eight.  He was followed by Hunter Davis with seven.  Jalen Lowery had four steals during the game for the Warriors.
 
 
Game Vitals
 
Final: Southern Wesleyan 77, Mount Olive 74
 
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-2 / CC 3-2) Mount Olive (2-5 / CC 2-5)
 
 
Coach Pasqua says…
 
"Very proud of our team.  We played tough and composed tonight.  Good team win."
 
 
How It Happened
 
The University of Mount Olive Trojans took the first points of the game on a layup by Johnny Hughes, but Southern Wesleyan countered with back-to-back three pointers by Arusha Hunter and Demarcus Addie.  The Warriors continued to push their lead ahead with a second 3-pointer by Addie and a layup by Hunter Davis.  Johnny Hughes sunk a jump shot, but the Warriors countered right back with Addie's third three pointer of the game to put Southern Wesleyan's lead at 16-9.  Back-to-back layups by Addie and Davis allowed the Warriors to maintain their 8-point lead despite a three pointer by Alan Treakle for the Trojans.  Mount Olive chipped away at the Warriors lead on a 3-pointer by Darius Spragley to put the Trojans down by five points.  The Trojans took the lead on a jump shot by Spragley, but it was a short lived lead as Hunter laid the ball up to put the Warriors back on top 22-21.  Addie passed the ball up to Davis, who laid the ball up into the basket to allow the Warriors to take a 25-24 point lead over the Trojans.  The Warriors pushed their lead to 28-26 as Addie knocked down his fourteenth point of the game with a three point shot.  After free throws by Hunter, Ta'Jay Dunlap laid the ball up to put the Warriors ahead 32-26.  The Warriors took a ten point advantage on back-to-back three point baskets by Jalen Lowery and Addie.  Despite a late layup for the Trojans, Southern Wesleyan continued to lead 38-33 at the half.
 
Southern Wesleyan jumped out early in the second half as Addie sunk a deep 3-pointer to allow the Warriors to push their lead to 41-33.  A second basket by Addie allowed the Warriors to take a 10-point advantage over the Trojans.  Mount Olive countered with a three by Johnny Hughes.  The Trojans challenged, coming to within one point with just under sixteen minutes left in the second half, but Hunter laid the ball up to put Southern Wesleyan ahead by three.  Mount Olive tied the game up at 45, but a 3-pointer by Hunter put Southern Wesleyan on top 48-45.  Back-to-back layups by Lowery and Addie allowed the Warriors to push their lead to 52-45.  Southern Wesleyan continued to maintain the distance despite several attempts by the Trojans, as Davis laid the ball up and Dunlap sunk a 3-pointer to put the Warriors ahead 59-49.  Quishaun Brevard put the Trojans down 59-53 with a reverse layup, but Dunlap followed with a 3-pointer of his own to put the Warriors on top 62-53.  Addie drilled his seventh three-pointer of the game to put the Warriors on top 71-57.  Last second free throws by Addie and Dunlap allowed the Warriors to pick up their third victory of the season with a 77-74 final score.
 
 
What's Next
 
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC as they welcome the Chowan Hawks to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on February 5 and 6.  They will then travel to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Emmanuel College Lions on February 9 at 7 p.m.