Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-A fast-break layup by sophomore Chris Flemmings as time was expiring lifted host Barton College to a dramatic 76-74 Conference Carolinas men's basketball victory over North Greenville University in front of a home crowd of more than 1,000 fans Wednesday night in the Dog House.
With the score knotted at 74-74 in the final minute, an offensive rebound by NGU junior guard Micah Parker looked to give the visitors the last shot of regulation. However, Parker was stripped by Barton senior Brian McNair as he drove the lane with just a few seconds left. Senior Zach Faircloth gained possession of the loose ball off McNair's deflection and he immediately made a deep pass to Flemmings ahead of the Crusaders defense for the game-winning lay-in with no time left for North Greenville to counter.
Barton improved to 6-7 overall and moved within a half-game of first place in the league standings at 2-1 (all nine teams have at least one loss just three or four games into conference play). North Greenville dropped its second straight game to dip to 7-5 and 2-2.
McNair's steal capped a fabulous performance for the senior in only his second game of the season. McNair tallied a game- and career-high 24 points while adding team-high totals of five assists, five rebounds and four steals. McNair had a hot-hand throughout, making 8 of 14 field goals including a staggering 6 of 7 attempts from 3-point range.
Flemmings was held to a season-low nine points but his bucket at the end erased all memory of any struggles.
Freshman Kendall Patterson added 10 points while juniors Daniel McClendon and Ryan Canoy both chipped in eight points. Senior Ethan Maske and freshman Jordan Sharpe played 16 minutes each off the bench and contributed five and four assists, respectively.
North Greenville was led by senior Chris Dean, who poured in a team-high 22 points on an incredible 9 of 11 shooting touch. Dean just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Junior forward Phillip Brown did manage a double-double for the Crusaders with a game-high 20 rebounds and 14 points. Brown is the league's top rebounder and entered the week ranked fifth nationally with 12.5 boards per game. A total of four NGU players reached double figures with senior Keith Johnson netting 19 and Parker registering 11.
The back-and-forth contest featured 12 lead changes and 16 ties. Both teams' largest lead was six points.
The first half saw the score deadlocked nine times before Patterson drilled a three-pointer in the final seconds to give the Bulldogs a narrow 40-37 edge at halftime.
Play continued to seesaw both ways until Barton seemed to gain some momentum late. NGU led as late at 68-66 before the Bulldogs raced ahead with the next eight points. A Canoy layup assisted by McNair started the run before a fast-break finish by Patterson and another lay-in by Canoy pushed the hosts ahead by four. A pair of made free throws by McNair increased BC's advantage to six points with 4:20 on the clock.
North Greenville held the Bulldogs scoreless for the next four minutes and was able to level the score for a 16th and final time with six straight points. The Crusaders made just 4 of 8 free throws to begin the rally before a Johnson basket in the paint evened the score at 74-all with just under two minutes left.
Barton missed on its ensuing possession before NGU had three short-range looks at taking the lead that missed the mark before the big defensive stop and transition winner in the waning moments.
North Greenville shot the ball better than the Bulldogs, 52% compared to 43%, but Barton took advantage of more 3-pointers making 11 of 22 (50%) to just 4 of 7 (57%) by the Crusaders. NGU also took 19 more free throws going 20 of 31 (64.5%) from the charity stripe to Barton's 7 of 12 (58.3%).
However, Barton's defense forced the visitors into 21 turnovers. The Bulldogs protected the ball much better with just 11 miscues. BC finished with a 26-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
Barton was outrebounded, 43-27, but the Bulldogs were without one of their top rebounders in senior Evan Shelton due to injury.
The Bulldogs will go for a third consecutive win when Barton visits league preseason favorites King University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
