Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WINGATE, N.C.-A much-taller Wingate University squad outrebounded Barton College by 12 and held a 48-16 advantage on points in the paint en route to a 69-55 NCAA Division II men's basketball victory in Cuddy Arena late Saturday afternoon.
Wingate (4-1 overall) trailed by eight-points in the early stages but rallied for its fourth consecutive win by holding Barton (3-4) to its worst shooting performance of the year. BC missed more than three-quarters of its field goals making just 16 of 68 shot attempts for 23.5% while going just 59.3% (16 of 27) from the free throw line. WU made 40% (24 of 60) of its tries from the floor and five more free throws than Barton on the same number of attempts for 77.8% (21 of 27).
Four Wingate players scored in double figures with senior center Deion Turman (14 points, 19 rebounds) and senior forward Jeffrey Parker (10 points, 11 rebounds) both posting double-doubles. Freshman forward Josh Dominquez and junior guard Ryan Daye added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Barton sophomore guard Chris Flemmings led all players with 20 points, tying his season-high output for a third time. Flemmings canned four 3-pointers and pulled down seven rebounds. Sophomore guard DJ Carnegie followed with a season-high 11 points. Senior forward Evan Shelton seized a team-high 11 rebounds and junior forward Khari Faison totaled nine points and seven rebounds.
In a matchup of couple prominent basketball programs that have each made two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, Barton jumped out to a 15-7 lead by making a trio of three-pointers off the hands of freshman Kendall Patterson, Flemmings and freshman Jordan Sharpe. However, Barton would only make two more field goals over the final 13 minutes of the first half.
Wingate went on an ensuing 10-0 run after Sharpe hit his trey at the 13:22 mark to jump in front 17-15. A junior DJ Carnegie jumper was BC's first hoop in over four minutes to tie the contest for a second and final time at 17-17 but Wingate registered the next six points to regain the lead for the final eight minutes.
Barton only made one field goal in the last eight minutes on a 3-pointer in the left corner by Carnegie that pulled the visitors to within five at 27-22. Junior Ryan Daye then scored the frames final four points on a pair of layups to extend the hosts advantage to nine (31-22) at the intermission.
Wingate committed eight turnovers in the first eight minutes before settling down and protecting the ball better with just two more mistakes over the next 12 minutes.
Barton was held to just 21.9% (7 of 32) shooting in the first 20 minutes but only trailed by single digits making four of its seven hoops from long range. BC also struggled from the free throw line making just 4 of 10 (40%) freebees before halftime.
Wingate continued its strong defensive effort out of the locker room holding Barton without a field goal for the first four minutes of the second half. The host Bulldogs started the period on a 19-6 run. A freshman guard Austin Crown three-point play finished off the surge that provided Wingate with its largest lead of 22 points at 50-28 with 12:30 left.
Barton scored the next eight points on a Flemmings jumper, a Faison hook and four consecutive free throws by Patterson to start an improbable comeback attempt. The visiting Bulldogs continued to rally with a pair of Flemmings 3-pointers sandwiched around two hoops by Faison to finish off an 18-6 run to pull BC to within 10 at 56-46.
Wingate scored nine of the games next 12 points to increase its lead to 16 (65-49). Flemmings scored Barton's only points during the momentum-ending run with his fourth 3-pointer at the 6:32 mark. BC was then held to just one more made field goal– a last-minute put-back by junior Daniel McClendon – as Wingate completed is fourth consecutive double-digit triumph.
Patterson finished with eight points and team-best totals of three assists and three steals. Shelton did not score but he added five blocks to his 11 rebounds.
Wingate shot 46.2% in the second half to end a two-game skid against Barton but was held without a made three-pointer.
Barton begins Conference Carolinas play at Belmont Abbey College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs are the defending regular season co-champions while the Crusaders are the defending tourney champs.
