WILSON, N.C.-Senior forward L.J. Dunn dominated down low with a game-high 24 points and a career-best 18 rebounds Thursday night as Barton College rallied to a 59-52 conquest of visiting Coker College in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action.
The Bulldogs improved to 9-5 overall and 4-2 in league play while Coker exited at 3-8 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Barton visits Limestone on Saturday night and Coker plays at Mount Olive. Both games tipoff at 7:30 p.m.
Barton got off to a cold start against the Cobras, who are annually one of the nation's top defensive teams. The Bulldogs were down 1-7, but climbed back within 10-11 despite 4-of-22 shooting with seven minutes left in the half.
Inspired play from Dunn (Raleigh, N.C.) sparked the Bulldogs on a 7-0 run just before the break that gave Barton a 23-20 edge at intermission. The 6-foot-3 Dunn had 13 points and nine rebounds at halftime. No other player on either team had more than five points at the break.
A 3-pointer by 6-7 forward Liam Kyle (Cleveland, Ohio) gave Coker a 38-33 lead with 12:19 to play, but single free throws by Aaron Coats (Salemburg, N.C.) and Jaren Haley (Woodbridge, Va.), a tip-in by R.D. Dowdy (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and a 3-pointer by Haley pulled the Bulldogs even at 40-all.
Four foul shots by Cobra guard Delonte Doles (Roswell, Ga.) made it 44-40 at 9:19. Barton responded with a 10-0 run on free throws by Dunn and point guard Gerald Boston (Burlington, N.C.), a tip-in by Dunn, a Boston pull-up jumper and layups from Dunn and Dowdy.
Coker got a 3-pointer from Tom Wright (Sydney, Australia) and a three-point play by Vatrick Thompson (W. Columbia, S.C.) to knot the score at 50 with 2:44 showing. Dunn then went 4-for-4 and Boston was 3-for-4 from the foul line as Barton pulled ahead 57-50. Doles canned a layup with :09 remaining and Greg Mammel (San Antonio) finished off the Barton scoring with two free throws.
Dunn was 8-of-17 from the floor, 8-of-10 from the foul line, had three steals and drew three charges. Boston, who is playing with an injured hand, had all 11 of his points in the second half. Barton dominated the backboards 44-27.
"I thought L.J. played with incredible heart and passion tonight," 15th-year Barton head coach Ron Lievense said. "When this team was down and lethargic, he made some incredible extra-effort plays and had some great finishes around the basket. I also thought that Gerald did a nice job playing through some pain and that R.D gave us a great lift."
Coker canned 21-of-48 shots for 43.8-percent accuracy and limited the Bulldogs to 17-of-55 for 30.9 percent, including just 2-of-13 beyond the arc. Barton also outscored Coker 23-5 from the foul line.
