Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
HARTSVILLE, S.C.-Free throws sealed Barton College's fate for a second straight game with host Coker College gutting out a 94-90 triple overtime Conference Carolinas men's basketball victory on Wednesday night in Timberlake-Lawton Gym.
After put-backs by juniors Julian Nelson and Eren Moses rallied the Cobras into the lead in the third five-minute overtime period, Coker hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 90 seconds to hold off the Bulldogs.
The Cobras took over twice as many free throws as Barton because the Bulldogs were whistled for over 30 fouls for a second consecutive contest. Coker made 27 of its 43 attempts (62.8%) from the charity stripe including its last two by Moses with 14 seconds left in triple OT to move over .500 at 9-8 overall and 6-5 in the league.
Barton has lost three straight road games in a seven-day span to slip out of first place in the Conference Carolinas standings at 14-5 overall and 9-4 in the league. The Bulldogs, who have only lost one game at home this season, will try to get back in the win column on Saturday against first-place Limestone College in the Dog House at 7:30 p.m.
The Royal Blue and White fought hard to force triple overtime making late shots in regulation and the first two OT periods.
Barton trailed by five with 45 seconds left in regulation but a made three-pointer by freshman Chris Flemmings and two clutch free throws by Gerald Boston with 27 ticks on the clock extended the game for the first time.
Boston converted on two more free throws at the 1:37 mark of the first overtime to rally and even the score again for the Bulldogs. Both squads missed go-ahead shot attempts in the final minute.
In the second overtime, senior forward Jon Hart came up with Barton's big points down the stretch. A three-point play by sophomore Larry Felder put the hosts ahead by two but Hart was able to tip-in his own missed shot to level the score.
Coker missed a couple potential game-winning shots as time expired in both regulation and the second OT.
A layup by Hart and two swished free throws by Boston staked Barton to a four-point lead to start the final overtime, but the Bulldogs were held to just two more points over the final four minutes. The Cobras rallied with a game-ending 10-2 spurt that was highlighted by the tip-ins from Nelson and Moses. Junior guard Brian McNair came up with an offensive rebound and layup to pull the visitors to within one, 91-90, with 57 seconds left but 3-of-4 made throws by Moses kept Coker in front. Boston took a contested layup with 16 ticks to go to potentially tie the game for a 14th time but the banked shot came rattling off the iron before Moses nailed his last two freebees to make it a two possession victory.
Barton led by as many as eight in the first half before the Cobras fought back for a 30-29 halftime lead. Coker never led by more than six throughout the 55 minutes of game action. The seesaw battle featured 20 lead changes.
Boston scored a game-high 31 points, making an impressive 17-of-19 (89.5%) free throws. Boston also dished out a game-high seven assist. Hart posted his eighth double-double of the season with 22 points (tying his season best output) and a game and season high 17 rebounds. McNair was the Bulldogs third double figure scorer with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Flemmings and senior Keith Manley scored nine and eight points, respectively, before both fouling out.
Moses and junior Bryce Arnott led six Cobra double-digit scorers with 17 points apiece. Coker held a 50-45 rebounding advantage on Barton on the strength of double-doubles by Felder and senior Sharod Williams.
