Box Score by Kevin Buczek
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Senior guard Jaren Haley scored a game-high 35 points for visiting Barton College in a 68-64 Conference Carolinas loss at Queens University of Charlotte in the Grady Cole Center Tuesday night.
The Royals (6-5 Overall, 1-0 Conf.) – who earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament last season and started the season preseason nationally ranked – opened up the league play with a marquee win against a Bulldogs (8-3, 0-1) squad that was picked just behind them in the Conference Carolinas preseason coaches' poll (Queens picked second and Barton selected third).
Haley netted his season-high 35 points on 9-16 precision from the field and 13-17 accuracy from the free throw line. Haley added game-high totals of eight rebounds and four assists.
A dozen other Bulldogs saw action but they were all held to six or less points. Juniors Gerald Boston and Evan Shelton paced the supporting cast to Haley with six points apiece.
In a close game that featured 19 lead changes, Haley provided Barton with its last lead of 50-48 with a layup at the 8:55 mark of the second half. BC committed turnovers on its next four possessions allowing Queens to string together an 7-0 run to take the lead for good. A steal and fastbreak dunk by junior Antonio Stabler tied the showdown for the ninth and final time at 50-up before a 3-pointer by senior Sean Eads capped the outburst.
Barton stayed within striking distance converting on layups and free throws but three more turnovers down the stretch kept the Royals ahead. Haley knocked down a pair of free throws twice in the final minute to pull the Bulldogs with two points but Eads countered with 3-4 made freebees in the final 15 seconds to seal the Queens win.
Senior Daniel Bailey, the league's second leading scorer, placed the Royals with 22 points. Stabler and junior Maurice Nichols each chipped in 12 points.
Barton entered the contest ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II in turnover margin at +8.2 but a sloppy 24 turnovers in the squads first game in 18 days doomed the Bulldogs hopes of a fourth straight win. Queens only committed 20 turnovers against a Barton defense that also ranks first nationally in steals per game.
Queens shot 45.8-percent (22-48) and made 21-34 (61.8%) free throws. Barton was held to 31% in the first half but heated up to 59% in the second half to finish the game at 43.1% (22-51) while taking 13 fewer free throws making 14-21 (66.7%).
A last minute made three-pointer by freshman Trey Ervin provided Queens with a 28-26 lead at halftime after a close first half that included each team taking a lead of no more than four points.
Barton will try and bounce back at league foe Coker College (Hartsville, S.C.) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
