Box Score by Kevin Buczek
MISENHEIMER, N.C.-Barton College junior guard Gerald Boston scored a season-high 27 points in a 100-89 Conference Carolinas men's basketball road loss at Pfeiffer University in Merner Gym on Wednesday night.
The Falcons shot 54.2% and scored the final 11 points to break an 89-89 tie in the final 90 seconds. The final moments featured a clutch 9-of-9 free throw shooting an old fashion three-point play by senior Danny Smith.
Pfeiffer improved to 9-7 overall and 3-3 in the conference. Barton had its three-game win streak snapped and dipped to 11-4 and 3-2. The Bulldogs will next make a first journey to Bristol, Tenn., to play Conference Carolinas newcomer King College on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Boston drained seven 3-pointers en route to his 27 points. Junior Keith Manley bucketed 14 points and senior Jaren Haley cashed in 11 points.
The Falcons had five scorers in double digits en route to the century mark including 27 my junior Reggie Hollinger, 22 by Smith, 20 from senior KC Anuna, 15 by Elijah Matthews and 14 from Josh Humphrey.
Barton held the largest lead of the first half at seven, 24-17, on Manley layup. Pfeiffer rallied to lead by five points a trio of times before the two teams went into the halftime locker rooms deadlocked for the sixth time at 47-47.
Boston and Anuna led their respective teams at the intermission with 17 points apiece. Manley had eight points and seven boards at the break.
Deadlocked at 64-64, Barton pulled out to its largest lead of nine (74-65) with a 10-1 surge that was started by a Boston trey and a junior Jon Hart three-point play and capped by a layin by junior Joseph Velez.
Pfeiffer responded with the next 12 points to regain at 77-74. Junior Reggie Hollinger netted the first seven points of the rally and classmate Josh Humphrey completed the outburst with the next five points.
A Haley three-pointer briefly halted the Falcon run and knotted the score at 77-up. Anuna answered on the ensuing Pfeiffer possession with his own trifecta as Pfeiffer stayed ahead for the next four-plus minutes.
The Falcons led by six at 86-80 but a Manley dunk finished off a 9-3 rally by the Bulldogs that evened the score for the 13th and final time at 89-89. Hollinger reclaimed the lead for Pfeiffer on the ensuing possession with an offensive rebound and two made free throws. Barton's next attempt at tying the score was rejected by a baseline block by Smith, who then converted on a three-point play to increase the Falcons lead to five. Barton was forced to take quick shots in the final minute that missed each time and Pfeiffer closed out the win from the free throw line taking its largest lead at the end.
The Bulldogs shot 43.1% but could not keep up with the Falcons hot arms that fired at 54.2%. Barton held a 10-rebound advantage at halftime, 27-17, but were outrebounded 21-13 in the second half. Both squads sunk nine 3-pointers.
enior R.D. Dowdy added seven points for the Bulldogs. The post trio of Hart, Velez and junior Evan Shelton all totaled six points.
