Hawks top century mark in rout of Mt. Olive

Published 9:29 am Thursday, February 9, 2023

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MURFREESBORO – The Chowan men’s basketball team eclipsed the century mark for the first time since 2017 and posted the fifth most points in program history on their way to a 112-92 victory over Mount Olive in Conference Carolinas action here Wednesday night.

Former Hertford County High School standout Daylan Askew (with ball) scored a career-high 26 points to lead Chowan to a 112-92 win over Mt. Olive on Wednesday night in Murfreesboro. Photo courtesy of Chowan University

Daylan Askew posted a career-high 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting along with five assists. Christian Koonce tallied 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor.

Jay Estime added 14 points, while Donovan Martin added 13 points.

Chowan shot 63.9% in the second half.

Mount Olive opened the contest on an 11-3 run. Askew had a free throw before RJ Wilson hit a triple to cut the deficit to 13-7. Wilson’s basket sparked a run as Estime hit a jumper before Paul Whitby hit a triple and Skyler Davies and Preston Le Gassick each added a jumper to lead 16-13.

The Trojans used an 8-2 run to lead 24-18 before the Hawks countered with a 14-4 run. Koonce knocked down a triple before Askew hit a layup in transition and Koonce added a pair of layups. Estime scored the next five points to lead 32-28.

UMO took a 33-32 lead before Veigar Alexandersson knocked down a triple and gave the Hawks the lead for the remainder of the contest. Askew added a layup and a triple to give the Hawks a 40-33 lead. RJ Wilson added a 1-of-2 trip at the line before Isaac Hippolyte used a putback and Koonce hit back-to-back threes to stretch the lead to double-digits. Askew hit a driving layup to end the half as the Hawks led 51-39.

Koonce connected from the floor for a pair of baskets to open the second half as Hippolyte and Askew scored in the paint to lead 60-46. Estime and Le Gassick hit triples and Whitby hit a jumper to continue the scoring.

Koonce scored three baskets along with two hoops from Askew and a layup in transition Estime to stretch the lead to 85-69. Donovan Martin scored seven points in a 1:18 span with a dunk, three-pointer, and a jumper.

Baskets from Cheick Traore and Estime put the Hawks up 100-80. Martin added four points from the line along with five points by Askew. Martin finished off the contest with a dunk to take the victory.

Chowan (11-10 overall; 9-7 in league action) will look for revenge in the second meeting of the season with Belmont Abbey on Saturday, Feb. 11. Tip-off is slated for 4 pm.