Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
LAURINBURG, N.C.-The junior tandem of forward Keith Manley and guard Aaron Brown led Barton College with season-high point totals of 19 and 14 points, respectively, in a 109-74 Conference Carolinas rout of host St. Andrews University on Wednesday night in Harris Court.
The Bulldogs set several season-best marks including eclipsing the century mark for the first time with 109 points, shooting a sizzling 55.7% from the field and winning by a 35-point margin. Barton – tying its most made 3-pointers in a game with nine swished treys – snapped a season-worst two game skid and will return to Wilson with records of 12-5 overall and 4-3 in the league.
Manley scored his game-high 19 points on a remarkable 9-of-10 precision. Manley also tied his season-best rebounding performance by ripping down a game-high eight boards. Brown netted his 14 points on 6-of-8 accuracy and dished out a season-most five assists.
Thirteen Bulldogs scored and all five Barton starters totaled in double figures. Senior Jaren Haley and junior Joseph Velez each poured in 12 points and junior Gerald Boston canned 11.
Senior Jon Benitez scored nine points in his season debut after recovering from injury to lead Barton's bench that outscored SAU's reserves 41-27. Classmate Aaron Suggs and sophomore Zach Faircloth added eight points each.
Barton dominated all facets of play with a 26-11 advantage on points off turnovers and 26-6 dominance on second chance points with 17 offensive rebounds. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 nationally in turnover margin at +6.6 and finished with a +11 edge Wednesday forcing SAU into 18 turnovers while only coughing it up seven times.
St. Andrews started hot scoring the game's first five points and leading for the first five minutes until a Haley three-pointer evened the scoreboard for the only time at 13-13 with 15 minutes left. Barton pulled ahead for good with a 16-1 run that held the Knights without a field goal for over five minutes and featured seven consecutive points by Manley.
The Bulldogs largest lead came at the end of the half on the strength of three made free throws in the final minute as Barton led 50-31 at the intermission. Manley led all players into the locker room with 13 points. Both squads shot 48-percent in the first 20 minutes but Barton attempted 14 more shots as the Bulldogs forced St. Andrews into 11 turnovers while protecting the ball well on the offensive end with only three miscues at the midway break.
Barton shot a sparking 62.5% in the second half to continue to build on its lead all the way to the final buzzer.
The Knights were led by senior Antonio Moffitt's 18 points.
Barton will play its first home game in two week when the Bulldogs next host league foe Lees-McRae College on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
