DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College men's basketball team (2-5, 2-5 CC) lost 68-59 against the University of Mount Olive (3-7, 3-7 CC) in Belk Arena on Saturday afternoon.
 
GAME ESSENTIALS:
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
The Fleet are 6-15 all-time against the Trojans, but ended a ten-game losing streak against Mount Olive in the series with a win against the Trojans last night.
 
THE GAME
Mount Olive led by as many as nine points in the opening stages of the game, but Uzziah Dawkins drilled a jumper to cap a 9-0 Erskine run and give the Fleet a 22-21 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. The remainder of the half was a back-and-forth affair and Travis Walters converted an and-one as buzzer sounded to give Erskine a 31-30 halftime lead. Mount Olive drilled a go-ahead three-pointer early in the second half to take a 38-35 lead and held that lead for the ensuing moments. The Fleet stayed within striking distance and an Emandi Brooks layup tied the game at 50 and a Caleb Shackleford free throw gave Erskine a 51-50 lead at the nine-minute mark of the second half. But the Trojans closed the game on a 12-4 run to pick up a road victory by a score of 68-59 on the second night of a back-to-back in Due West against the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
Anderson transfer Matthew Brown scored a team-high 11 points on 4-6 shooting and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line. Brown added two rebounds and a block for the Fleet.

THE TEAM
Erskine struggled from the field, shooting just 20-51 (39.2%) and was just 3-21 (14.3%) from beyond the arc. The Fleet did make more free throws (16) than Mount Olive attempted (15), but the Trojans' ten three pointers proved to be the difference.

WHAT'S NEXT 
Erskine travels to Belmont Abbey (9-2, 7-3) on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. for a road test against the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey is 21-8 all-time against the Fleet and Erskine has not won against the Crusaders since a 69-67 road victory back in January 2018.

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