MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The King University men's basketball team returned to the court for the first time in 2022 at the University of Mount Olive. The Tornado couldn't recover from a second half Mount Olive run, falling 79-68.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Mount Olive 79, King 68
LOCATION: Kornegay Arena; Mount Olive, N.C.
RECORDS: King 5-6, 3-6 Conference Carolinas; Mount Olive 7-4, 6-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- A Michael Mays layup gave King a 6-3 lead before Mount Olive responded with nine straight points to take a 9-6 lead.
- However, King came back with five straight points to regain an 11-9 advantage following a Brandon Lamberth layup.
- The Trojans responded with another run, taking a 16-11 lead following seven straight points.
- King later trailed by seven before a Kenny Turner layup started a Tornado spurt.
- Darron Howard followed with a triple before an Isaiah Curry evened the score at 23 with a layup.
- Zach Grodzki gave King a 25-23 lead with a layup that gave King a 9-0 run.
- Mount Olive ended the Tornado run with a triple to regain the lead.
- Connor Jordan made a free throw for the Tornado in the final minute, but King trailed 29-28 at the break.
Second Half
- Mount Olive held a slight advantage in the early going of the second half, but King came back and evened the score at 40 following a Mays three-point play.
- However, Mount Olive answered with five straight points to regain the lead.
- King worked their way back again as a Lamberth layup pulled King with in 49-47 with 12 minutes remaining.
- Mount Olive then went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 59-47 advantage before a Desmond Davis layup.
- King made one last run down the stretch, scoring eight straight points to pull within 71-63 with 1:35 remaining.
- However, it wasn't enough as Mount Olive held on for the 79-68 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Curry and Mays led King with 10 points each. Curry added eight rebounds while Mays accounted for four rebounds and two assists.
- Howard followed with nine points and five rebounds.
- Davis chipped in with eight points on 4-for-4 shooting. He added two rebounds and three assists.
FOR THE FOES
- Mount Olive was led by Cole Johnson's 18 points and six rebounds.
- Matthias Caver followed with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
- King is scheduled to return home to take on Emmanuel College on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
- Mount Olive is in action again on Saturday at North Greenville University.
