Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
GAFFNEY, S.C.-No. 15 nationally ranked Barton College used a huge first half and three Bulldog seniors scored in double figures in knocking off Conference Carolinas unbeaten Limestone College, 75-59, on Saturday night in the Timken Center.
Senior guard Gerald Boston notched game-highs of 20 points and five assists as Barton (8-2 Overall, 3-1 Conf.) bounced back from its first league loss of the season. Limestone (8-3, 4-1) had its four-game win streak snapped.
Senior forward Jon Hart tallied his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior guard Aaron Brown added a season-best 14 point performance.
The Saints scored the game's first points with a made three-pointer by junior PJ Foster but Barton had a hot-hand from behind the arc throughout including scoring its first nine points on a trio of trey's to take an early 9-3 advantage. Brown knotted the score for the only time with the first trifecta before a triple by Boston put the Bulldogs ahead for the final 37 minutes. Brown capped the outburst with his second 3-ball.
Brown scored all 14 of his points in the opening period going a perfect 4-for-4 from long range.
Limestone only trailed by one, 19-18, at the 7:31 mark and by five, 28-23, inside four minutes left in the frame before another trey by Brown jumpstarted a 16-5 run to end the half. Boston sank his second 3-pointer with just four seconds to go to send the Bulldogs into the locker room leading by 16 (44-28).
Barton was 7-of-9 (77.8%) from three-point distance at the intermission.
The Saints briefly pulled the deficit inside 10 points at 46-38 early in the second half before Barton scored the next 11 points to pull way for a 57-38 lead. The Bulldogs held a 19-point advantage three times and led by at least 14 points for the final 15 minutes.
Barton made a season-high matching 10 3-pointers at a sizzling 71.4% (10-14) precision. The Bulldogs shot 47% (31-66) from the field compared to 42.9% (24-56) by Limestone. BC trailed on the boards, 19-17, at halftime but crashed the glass better in the second half to claim a final 37-34 edge on the backboards. The Bulldogs made nine steals while only committing eight turnovers.
Hart scored all 10 of his points and grabbed half of his 10 rebounds in the final 20 minutes. Junior guard Brian McNair scored eight points and dished out three assists in a team-most 30 minutes. Freshman Chris Flemmings chipped in seven points in his second career start.
Seniors Charles Blue and Joe Raga led the Saints with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Raga flirted with a double-double with nine rebounds.
Barton next hosts Coker College in a Conference Carolinas clash on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Coker Cobras (6-4, 4-1) are in a virtual three-way tie for second place in the league standings with Barton and Limestone with one loss apiece.
