Box Score
by John Hackney
WILSON, N.C.-Senior guard Jaren Haley torched the nets for 18 first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting from downtown Saturday night to spark host Barton College to an energized 87-59 men's basketball conquest of North Greenville University.
It marked the first foray into the "Dog House" for the Crusaders, who just joined Conference Carolinas this season. Barton improved to 15-8 overall and 7-6 in league play and North Greenville exited at 11-12 and 5-10.
Barton, which had lost three straight, came out cooking and coasted to a 43-27 halftime cushion. While Haley was cashing in from outside, junior 6-foot-6 forward Keith Manley was getting it done down low with eight points, three boards and three steals. Barton pushed the lead to 19 points at 50-31 with 17:13 to play, but the Crusaders cut it to just nine points at 59-50 with a 19-9 run. The Bulldogs bounced right back, responding with a decisive 16-0 run for a comfortable 75-50 lead.
Haley finished with a game-high 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting and added five assists and three steals. Barton, which ranks first nationally in assist-turnover ratio, had seven turnovers and 22 assists. The Bulldogs also notched 16 steals on 22 North Greenville turnovers. Barton currently ranks fifth nationally in steals. Manley turned in a stellar all-around performance with 11 points, eight boards, four blocks and four steals. Junior point guard Gerald Boston was on target with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added four assists and three steals. Senior guard Aaron Suggs added 10 points, four assists and one steal.
Barton limited 6-8 senior center Paul Harrison to just 11 points and four rebounds. He was averaging 18.8 points and 11 rebounds. Jason Wray scored 11 and Zack Shields cashed in 10 for the Crusaders.
The Bulldogs, who are on the road at Mount Olive on Tuesday and Belmont Abbey on Saturday, won the rebounding battle 38-33 and outscored the visitors 32-6 in points off turnovers. Barton canned 31-of-67 shots for 46.3 percent and North Greenville finished 22-of-52 for 42.3 percent. Barton finished 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from 3-point land and 18-of-24 (75 percent) from the foul line.
