Box Score by Kevin Buczek
DUE WEST, S.C.-Junior forward Ryan Canoy tipped-in the game-tying basket with 1.4 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and then Barton College held host Erskine College to just one made field goal in the 5-minute extra period to squeak out a thrilling 68-65 Conference Carolinas men's basketball victory in Belk Arena Saturday night.
The Flying Fleet held a late five-point lead before the Bulldogs made a wild comeback started by a sophomore Chris Flemming three-pointer on the left wing with just over 10 seconds left. Barton fouled on the ensuing Erskine possession and the Fleet missed on the front end of a 1-and-1. Flemmings took his own chance at tying the game but his missed shot caromed to the well-positioned Canoy for the clutch tip.
Flemmings made a floater in the paint on Barton's first possession of OT after Canoy made a steal and the Bulldogs never trailed in the extra period. Flemmings then found McNair in the left corner for a baseline 3-pointer to give BC a quick 64-59 edge. Erskine finally got on the board with a senior Chris Gore free throw but a pair of freebees by freshman Travis McEachern extended the Bulldogs advantage to the largest of the game at six, 66-60, with 70 seconds to go in overtime.
Erskine shot 1 of 9 (11.1%) over the final five minutes with its only basket coming on a pull-up jumper at the free throw line by freshman Maurice Daniels at the 1:03 mark. Junior Daniel McClendon added two more free throws to extend Barton's cushion back to six points heading into the final 30 seconds. Erskine sophomore Rodrick Perkins was fouled forcing a late 3-pointer with 25 seconds to go and he made 2 of 3 free throws to close the gap to four points. The Bulldogs went for a quick shot and missed giving the ball back to the hosts. Gore was fouled while pulling down an offensive rebound and he made one free throw to make it a one-possession game. EC quickly fouled and BC was not able to seal the win from the free throw line missing a pair but the Fleet had barely any time to work with as Gore pulled down his career-high 24th rebound. Gore got the ball in the hands of senior Mike Gabbard for a desperation heave from half court that bounced errant off the backboard.
Barton improved to 10-8 overall and 6-2 in the league with its season-long fourth consecutive victory. The Bulldogs took over sole possession of second place in the league standings with North Greenville suffering a one-point loss to Belmont Abbey on Saturday. Erskine fell one game behind BC at 11-6 overall and 5-3 in the conference.
The Bulldogs shot 45.2% from the field and held Erskine to just 33.8%. Flemmings led the Royal Blue and White with 19 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double. McNair tacked on 15 points; McClendon tallied nine points; and Canoy bucketed eight points. Canoy and McClendon each added six rebounds as BC matched the Fleet with 49 rebounds apiece.
Perkins, the nation's second leading scorer, was held to 6 of 20 shooting from the field. However, Perkins made 7 of 10 free throws to finish with a game-high 21 points. Gore completed a mammoth double-double with 10 points and 24 rebounds. Senior Jake Haslam poured in 12 points on a game-high four 3-pointers while Daniels was a fourth Fleet player to reach double figures with 10 points.
Barton held a slim advantage throughout most of a low-scoring first half but Erskine closed the period with seven consecutive points to take a 26-21 halftime advantage.
The Bulldogs answered with the first six points of the second half to start a seesaw battle. Flemmings swished a pair of baskets around a junior Khari Faison one-handed dunk to start the period. The two team went on to trade baskets with neither team building up more than a four-point lead until a pair of Perkins' free throws pushed Erskine ahead by six, 58-52, with just over a minute left in regulation. McClendon scored seven of his nine points from the free throw line including two clutch freebees in the final minute that started Barton's dramatic comeback earlier illustrated.
Coach Joel Zimmerman, who took over the head coaching duties for Barton on Saturday with Ron Lievense attending to some personal priorities over the weekend, was given great defensive support by his Bulldogs. BC made 13 steals, only committed 16 fouls and held a good 3-point shooting Erskine squad to just 18.2% (6 of 33) shooting from behind the arc.
Barton and Coach Lievense will return home for a Conference Carolinas clash against local rival Mount Olive College on Wednesday. Tipoff in the Dog House is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
