CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Sophomore guard Gerald Boston (Burlington, N.C.) made a triumphant return to the hardwood Wednesday night scoring a game-high 20 points including the game-winning 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation to lift Barton College past No. 4 Southeast Region ranked Queens University of Charlotte by a final score of 67-64.
Trailing by one, Boston knocked down a trey with 46 seconds left while being fouled to catapult the Bulldogs in front 66-64. Boston was unable to convert on the four-point play before Royals' sharpshooter and all-time scoring leader senior Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C.) tried to answer with his own three-pointer but was off the mark. Senior L.J. Dunn (Raleigh, N.C.) cashed in 1-of-2 free throws with 15 ticks left to give Barton its final three point cushion and Queens missed a couple deep desperation three-point attempts in the last couple seconds.
Barton became the first team to knock off Queens in "The Oven" this season. The Bulldogs have won three straight road games, improving to 14-9 overall and 9-6 in the league. Barton plays its final three regular season games at home. The Bulldogs currently hold a 1/2 game lead over Pfeiffer University for in third place in the conference standings heading into Thursday's home showdown against the Falcons scheduled to tipoff at 7:30 p.m.
Boston, who missed exactly one month of action last playing on January 15 at Limestone, scored his 20 points in only 21 minutes of reserve action. Boston made 7-of-11 field goals including 2-of-4 from behind the arc. Dunn trifled with another double-double scoring 15 points and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Sophomore Jarrett Jernigan (Virginia Beach, Va.) followed with 13 points before fouling out.
Queens (16-6 Overall, 12-2 Conf.) built a 50-36 halftime advantage by shooting 56% (14-of-25) in the first half including 4-of-5 (80%) from three-point distance and 18-of-20 (90%) from the free throw line. Hopkins scored 14 of his team-high 18 points in the first frame.
The Bulldogs defense stepped up in the second half holding the Royals to just four field goals and 19% shooting in the final 20 minutes to rally back for the upset victory. Barton improved on its 32.4% accuracy in the first half by firing at 43.5% in the second period to outscore Queens 31-14 after the intermission.
The Bulldogs trailed 62-54 with just over eight minutes left before stringing together an 8-0 run to deadlock the score at 62-up. Boston started the outburst with a made layup, junior Jo Jo Velez (Woodbridge, Va.) and senior Greg Mammel (San Antonio, Texas) followed with pair of made free throws apiece, and Velez knotted the score with another lay-in. Hopkins regained the lead for the hosts with two made freebees before Boston came up with his dramatic three-pointer nearly two minutes later.
Velez finished with four points and eight rebounds. Mammel bucketed six.
Barton made nine of its 14 steals in the second half. Junior Jaren Haley (Woodbridge, Va.) made a game-high four swipes while Dunn and Boston each nabbed three.
