Box Score by Kevin Buczek
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.-Chris Flemmings, Daniel McClendon and Kendall Patterson all produced season-high point totals for Barton College en route to a dominating 81-64 non-conference victory over Saint Augustine's University on day two of the 48th annual Mount Olive College Pickle Classic in Kornegay Arena Saturday evening.
The Bulldogs had their best shooting game of the early season as Barton leveled its overall record to 3-3. BC shot 46.7% (28 of 60) from the field and more impressively 76% (19 of 25) from the free throw line. The Bulldogs shot under 50% in a two-point loss to Virginia State University a day earlier.
Patterson drilled a three-pointer on Barton's first possession and the Bulldogs led for the whole game. BC's lead quickly grew to 10 points just nine minutes into play on a pair of converted free throws by junior Evan Shelton.
A junior Raheem Jolliffe three-pointer and a senior Joel Kindred putpack pulled the Falcons to within six points at 22-16 but Patterson's second made triple a couple minutes later pushed the Bulldogs advantaged back to double digits for the final seven minutes of the half. Senior Zach Faircloth extended BC's cushion to 18 at 43-25 with a made 3-pointer but Saint Aug's score the final seven points to cut the halftime deficit to 11 at 43-32.
Barton opened up the second half on a 13-4 run to increase its lead up to a game-high 20 points for the first of four times at 56-36. The surge was capped by a freshman Jordan Sharpe steal and fastbreak dunk. The Bulldogs maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half before junior Khari Faison but the exclamation point on Barton's most lopsided win of the season with a slam dunk in the final minute on an assist by Flemmings.
Flemmings matched his season-best scoring output by leading all players with 20 points. McClendon, who entered Saturday's game just 9 of 20 from the free throw line, scored a season-high 16 points including an incredible 10 of 11 from the charity stripe. Patterson also reached double figures with a season-best 13 points.
The undersized Bulldogs were outrebounded by 14 in Friday's loss to VSU but did a much better job on the glass less than 24 hours later pulling down 37 boards compared to just 30 by SAU. Flemmings and Shelton both captured seven rebounds while Patterson napped six boards.
Flemmings helper on Faison's late dunk was his game-high fifth assist. Patterson completed his productive outing with four assists and four steals. Patterson's four thefts led a relentless Bulldog defense that held the normally high-scoring Falcons to just 64 points by forcing SAU into 23 turnovers. Barton finished with a 25-9 surplus on points off turnovers.
Saint Augustine's averaged nearly 100 points per game before the Pickle Classic but was held to a season-low 64 points by Barton. Junior Amere May was producing 22 points per game but was kept out of the scorebook in the first half before finishing with a season-low four points.
Sophomore Daniel Clark totaled team-high totals of 14 points and six rebounds before fouling out. Freshman Anthony Gaskins added 10 points for the Falcons.
Sharpe and Faison came off the bench and provided the Royal Blue and White with nine points apiece.
Barton returns to action on the road after Thanksgiving at Wingate University on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m.
