MOUNT OLIVE, NC – The Emmanuel Men's Basketball team traveled to Mount Olive, NC to face the University of Mount Olive Trojans in conference play. It was a close contest from the start, with the two teams heading into break knotted at 43-43. The Trojans took a 10-point lead in the 2^nd half, but the Lions roared back behind a 40-point afternoon from Devin Story to claim an 84-81 victory. With the win, the Lions move to 7-8 on the season, 4-3 in conference action. 

The Lions jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the first half behind hot starts from Devin Story. Micah Roebuck and Ezra McKee. The Trojans answered back to tie things at 11 and the two teams traded points and the lead, with Sam Thacker, Massimo Moretti, and Brady Peery getting in on the scoring to close out the half tied at 43-43. In the half, the Lions shot 17-31 from the field (55%), with Devin Story leading the way with 18 points in the half. 

Peery and Rett VanDeMark started the second half strong with four early points apiece to give the Lions a 52-48 lead. With 10:17 to play, the Trojans tied the game at 61-61 and continued a 7-0 run to go up 68-61 with 8:41 to play. The Trojans would go up by 9 with 6:13 to play, but the Lions roared back behind buckets from Thacker, McKee, Moretti and Story. A three-pointer from Story gave the Lions the 83-81 lead late and he iced the game at the foul line to give the Lions the 84-81 victory. In the second half, the Lions shot 48%, with Devin closing out a Storybook night on the court with 22 points in the half. 

Devin Story led the team with 40 points on the afternoon, adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Ezra McKee added 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block. 

Next up, the Lions will travel to Central, SC to face the Southern Wesleyan University Warriors on Wednesday at 7PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.