Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
MONTEVALLO, Ala.-Five Bulldogs scored in double figures but the Barton College men's basketball team was unable to fully recover after falling behind by 20 points to host and top seeded University of Montevallo losing 96-87 in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Division II Tournament on Saturday night.
No. 22 nationally ranked Montevallo shot 61.9% and held Barton without a field goal for nearly eight minutes in the first half and then held off multiple comeback attempts to advance to the Southeast Regional semifinals against Lincoln Memorial University.
The Falcons improved to 25-7 and the Bulldogs ended the season with a 20-10 record. The loss snapped a season best six-game win streak for Barton that included a run at the 2012 Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship title last week.
Junior guard Gerald Boston – a first team All-Conference and second team All-Region honoree this year – led the Bulldogs with 21 points. Boston, who ranks in the top-five nationally in steals, made a team-high three thefts.
A trio of seniors capped their collegiate careers in Royal Blue and White with solid performances. Guard Jaren Haley bucketed 19 including a game-high three 3-pointers. Forward Joseph Velez scored 17 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Guard Aaron Suggs added 12 points.
Montevallo senior guard D.J. Rivera led all scorers with 33 points. Rivera ranks seventh nationally in scoring and is a first team All-Southeast Region performer. Antoine Davis followed with 21 points and Drico Hightower chipped in 10 points.
After trading baskets twice to start the game, Rivera hit a three-pointer to soar the Falcons ahead for good at 7-4 just 2:35 into play. The hosts never trailed.
A junior forward Keith Manley jumper at the 14:48 mark pulled inched Barton to within two, 13-11, but it proved to be the Bulldogs last hoop for nearly eight minutes. The Falcons then pulled away with a 21-3 run. Montevallo scored 17 consecutive unanswered points during the stretch as BC missed six straight shots and committed five turnovers over the drought that last 7:48.
The Falcons led by 20 (34-14) at the end of the decisive stretch before junior Jarrett Jernigan finally hit Barton's next basket with a steal and layup with 6:55 left in the half.
Montevallo continued to lead by 18 (38-20) inside the final three minutes but the Bulldogs cut the halftime deficit to 12 with a 10-4 run to close the period. A Boston lay-in in the final minute capped the half that closed the halftime score to 42-30.
Velez led Barton into the halftime locker room with eight points and six rebounds.
BC shot 42% in the first half compared to a 56% by Montevallo.
A pair of short range hoops by Haley on the Bulldogs first two possessions of the second half pulled Barton inside 10 points for the first time. A couple of minutes later Haley drilled a trey that closed the gap to six points, 53-47, but the Falcons scored seven of the next nine points to regain control.
Barton kept its trademarked Bulldog fight down the stretch under 16th year head coach Ron Lievense and pulled to within five twice inside the final five minute but Montevallo answered every run with clutch shots.
A layup by Velez with 4:15 on the clock narrowed the score to 81-76 but UM hit scored on its next two trips down the court including a big tip-in by Rivera to double its lead to 86-76.
The Falcons made a remarkable 13-of-19 field goals for 68.4% precision in the second half to stay in front even tough Barton outscored Montevallo 57-54 over the final 20 minutes.
The Bulldogs shot 42.9% (42.9%) from the floor and 78.3% (36-of-46) from the free throw line but just 21.4% (3-of-14) from three-point distance.
Montevallo – ranked No. 3 nationally in rebounding margin – won the battle of the boards 35-30 and used 10 offensive boards to claim a 19-8 scoring advantage in second-chance points.
Manley was the fifth Bulldog in double digits with 10 points and five rebounds.
