DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College men's basketball team (2-4, 2-4 CC) got a late three-pointer from Justin Morton to seal a 63-62 home victory over Mount Olive on Friday night.
 
GAME ESSENTIALS:
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
The Fleet are still 6-14 all-time against the Trojans, but ended a ten-game losing streak against Mount Olive in the series.
 
THE GAME
Erskine scored the first five points of the game on an Emandi Brooks jumper and a Jalen Miller three-pointer, and the Fleet led by as many as 14 in the opening eight minutes of the game. But the Trojans responded with a 21-6 run toward the closing stages of the first half to take a 31-30 lead. Miller hit a pair of free throws before the break to give Erskine a narrow 32-31 lead at the half. The game followed that back-and-forth trend for the entirety of the second half as neither team led by more than six points. Mount Olive scored the first three points of the second half but a Travis Walters layup tied the game at 34, and the Trojans would not lead again for much of the second half. An Emandi Brooks triple extended the Fleet lead to six just before the first media timeout of the half. The game became a defensive battle for the middle portion of the half, but Mount Olive connected on threes on back-to-back possessions to tie the game with 8:30 remaining. Both teams exchanged baskets until Emandi Brooks got a steal and a bucket to give Erskine a four-point lead. The Trojans quickly made up that deficit on a pair of field goals. With 2:37 remaining, Justin Morton drilled a three from the left wing to give Erskine a 57-55 lead. Mount Olive answered with a layup to tie the game. Uzziah Dawkins came up with a big basket with just over a minute to go as Erskine regained a two-point lead. Mount Olive answered with a go-ahead three on the other end to go up 60-59, and the Fleet took a timeout. On the ensuing possession, with the shot clock running low, Justin Morton connected on a step-back three from the right wing to finally give Erskine a lead they held on to. Matthew Brown added a technical free throw to make it a 63-60 game. Erskine fouled Mount Olive with five seconds remaining, and the Trojans made both with five seconds remaining and the Fleet leading 63-62. The Trojans immediately fouled twice, which sent Jalen Miller to the free throw line. Miller missed the front end of the one-and-one, and the ball ricocheted out of bounds off the Fleet to give Mount Olive a final chance. The Trojans fired a heave from just in front of midcourt, but it was off target as Erskine picked up its second Conference Carolinas win with a 63-62 victory over Mount Olive.

THE PLAYER
Justin Morton had a joint game-high 18 points on 6-12 shooting and was 3-7 from beyond the arc, none bigger than his last triple, a game-winner from 29 seconds remaining. Morton also added three rebounds, dished out a pair of assists, and tallied two steals.

THE TEAM
Erskine shot 24-51 (47.1%) from the field and 6-18 (33.3%) from the three-point line in the loss. The Fleet outrebounded Mount Olive 31 to 29 and totaled 10 steals as part of 14 Trojan turnovers.

WHAT'S NEXT 
Erskine (2-4, 2-4) and Mount Olive (2-7, 2-7) will have a rematch tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in Due West.

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