Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.-Three Bulldogs scored in double figures and dominated the backboards as No. 15 nationally ranked Barton College notched a 75-65 road win at Fayetteville State University on Tuesday night in FJ Capel Arena.
Senior guard Gerald Boston poured in a game-high 29 points while senior forward Keith Manley and freshman guard Chris Flemmings tallied season-highs of 16 and 10 points, respectively. The trio of Bulldogs helped Barton to a 40-34 rebounding advantage with six boards apiece.
The Bulldogs remained perfect on the season at 5-0 after winning its road opener. The Broncos (1-4) lost at home for the first time.
FSU scored a quick five points on a putback by sophomore JeTerrel Murray and an old fashion three-point play by junior Louis Craft in the opening minute and led for the first half of the opening period. The Broncos continued to lead 17-8 with Manley doing his best to keep the Bulldogs close with three made jumpers from the right corner over that span.
Boston then sparked a decisive 19-2 run by drilling three-pointer from the right key followed immediately by a steal and layup to close the gap to 17-13. Another trifecta by Boston then inched the Bulldogs to within one at 19-18 before a pair of made free throws by junior Ethan Maske gave BC its first lead at the 8:15 mark. A Boston basket from the left side of the free throw line followed by a good 3-pointer by Maske and a dunk by senior Jon Hart completed the run that put the Bulldogs in front 27-19.
Barton led the rest of the way. Manley drove the right baseline and made a reverse layup as time expired to send the Bulldogs into the locker room leading 40-31. Manley scored 12 of his 16 points before halftime. Boston led all players at the intermission with 19 points including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point distance.
The Broncos scored the first seven points of the second half including a three-pointer and fastbreak lay-in by sophomore Anthony Shelton to pull within two at 42-40. The two teams traded the next two field goals before Barton took control with a 17-1 run started by a Manley layup. A pair of made 3-pointers by Flemmings extended the Bulldogs advantage to double digits before the run was capped with another trey by senior Zach Faircloth to give BC its largest lead at 59-41.
Fayetteville State kept hanging around like it did in the first meeting at Barton and made things interesting late with an 11-2 rally in the closing minutes. A Shelton 3-pointer with 1:36 on the clock completed the run as the Broncos pulled to within two possessions, 66-60, before Boston and the Bulldogs sealed the victory at the free throw line. Boston converted on all six of his free throw attempts in the final 90 seconds to provide Barton with its fourth double-digit victory.
Flemmings highlighted play for the Bulldogs in the second half scoring all 10 of his points in the final 20 minutes including a trio of made triples. Boston handed out five assists; Hart chipped in six points and five rebounds; and Maske added five points.
Both teams shot 46-percent from the field but Barton did a better job from the charity stripe making 16-of-26 free throws (61.5%) compared to a dismal 8-of-21 (38.1%) by the Broncos. The Bulldogs also held a 17-8 edge on second chance points. Boston did not start for the first time this season but helped BC's reserves outscore FSU's bench 39-10. Barton hit a season-most 9 three-pointers while both squads came up with 10 steals.
Shelton led four Broncos in double digits with 18 points that included 4-of-7 shooting from downtown. Junior Tyrrel Tate scored 13, Murray totaled 12 and Craft supplied 10.
Barton will return to league play after the Thanksgiving break with a Conference Carolinas road game at Lees-McRae College (Banner Elk, N.C.) on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
