Mount Olive College freshman Dontrell Brite, a Nansemond River High School alumnus, hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 of his career-high 16 points during a 17-6 run midway through the second half on Thursday.

His performance helped Mount Olive rally for an 80-75 victory over nationally 12th-ranked Barton in Conference Carolinas men’s basketball at Kornegay Arena.

The Trojans electrified the crowd with their eighth win in their last nine games and their second win in as many contests this season against nationally ranked opponents.

Mount Olive (9-8 overall, 6-5 Conference Carolinas) trailed by three at halftime and still trailed through the midway point of the second half before Brite triggered the Trojans’ rally. After Brite’s floater in the lane with 9:13 left to play pulled Mount Olive within 54-53, he followed with a three-pointer just 15 seconds later that put the Trojans back on top 56-54. The Trojans would never trail again.

Thursday’s win put Mount Olive over the .500 mark for the first time this season after a 1-7 start. The Trojans’ turnaround included a 72-69 win in December over Augusta State, also ranked No. 12 in the NABC Division’s II Top 25 at the time.