Cold-shooting Saints fall to Mount Olive

Limestone's Bobby Grier dribbles past a Mount Olive player on Saturday. Mount Olive didn't score as much as usual. But then the Trojans didn't have to.

Mount Olive made only 16 of its 55 shots from the field to beat the homestanding Limestone Saints, 50-44, on Saturday.

Limestone was even colder from the field than the Trojans, making only 15 of their 52 shots from the field. The Saints also struggled from the foul line, where they were 9 of 22.

The Saints scored the game's first four points. Stewart Clark and Tyron Evans made 3-pointers to boost the Saints' lead to 15-6 midway through the first half.

But the Trojans finally got going, outscoring the Saints, 19-2, to take a 25-19 at the break.

The Trojans extended their lead to 34-23 on a 3-pointer by Derek Staton. But the Saints battled back behind the play of Anthony Middleton, who had a basket and two free throws to close the deficit to 41-37.

Staton had four straight points to push the Trojans' edge to 10 with 1:05 left to play.

Clark's off-balance 3-pointer brought the Saints' within 47-42 with :36 left on the clock. But the Saints wouldn't get any closer.

Clark had 14 points to lead the Saints, who fall to 2-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Middleton added 11 for the Saints.

Craig Hayes had 15 points and Staton and Easley both had 11 to pace Mount Olive, which improves to 3-6 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

Limestone will host St. Andrews today at 7:30 p.m.