Box Score WILSON, N.C.-Sophomore Jordan Sharpe drilled a long three-pointer at the end of regulation, senior Ryan Canoy came up with huge game-tying reverse layup in the final seconds of the first overtime and junior Jake Veasley scored 12 of his game-high 35 points in the two overtime periods before freshman Danny Shand sealed a dramatic 104-100 Conference Carolinas men's basketball victory for host Barton College over Emmanuel College Monday night by making 5 of 6 free throws in the final 20 seconds of the second OT.
Barton remained perfect in league play at 2-0 while moving back over .500 on the season at 4-3. The Emmanuel Lions, who played in the NAIA National Championship game last season, slipped to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the league in the programs first year transitioning to the NCAA Division II ranks.
Veasley notched his first double-double as a Bulldog in his first season with Barton after transferring from Mid-South Community College. Veasley bucketed 35 points on a stellar 12 of 19 shooting night including a perfect 4 for 4 performance from behind the arc and a 7 of 9 showing from the free throw line. Veasley added a team-high 10 rebounds to complete the double-double.
Shand continued his strong rookie season with 27 points on 8 of 14 precision.
Barton entered overtime shooting just 45.8% (11-24) from the free throw line but BC converted on 16 of 20 freebees (80%) in the two 5-minute overtimes to hold off a relentless Emmanuel squad including Shand swishing five straight free throws in the last 20 seconds.
Sharpe led the Bulldogs bench with 12 points including the biggest shot of the contest.
Patrick McCrary had a chance nearly seal the win for Emmanuel from the charity stripe but he was only able to make 1 of 2 free throws with 3.8 seconds left in regulation which kept the visitors lead to just one possession and gave Barton a chance trailing by three at 76-73. BC's veteran head coach Ron Lievense inserted 6-foot-9 Nick Ellison for the inbounds play and Ellison was able to get the ball to Shand near midcourt. Shand then dribbled the ball to the 3-point arc and wisely decided to pass it out to Sharpe located just inside the midcourt line as EC's defense collapsed on Shand.
Sharpe was then able to rattle in the deep trey from the right side nearly 40 feet out to knot the score and electrify the home crowd in the Dog House. Sharpe, who went 5 of 8 from the field on the night, then set the tone of the extended periods by hitting his second 3-pointer to begin the first overtime.
Shand was credited with an assist on the game-tying play as he finished with a team-high six helpers.
Senior Michael Stanley, who was an NAIA All-American last season, was outstanding for the gritty Lions. Stanley finished one assist shy of a triple-double with team-high marks of 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.
Stanley scored 12 of Emmanuel's 24 points in the two OT's. Stanley banked in a tough runner with 17 seconds to go in the first OT but Barton was able to level the score once again thanks to a great hustle play by Canoy. Shand took the first attempt at tying the score but his off-balance shot was coming up well short when Canoy raced in and caught the ball under the hoop and quickly turned it into a successful reverse layup while still in midair. EC tried a long pass on the ensuing inbounds play but it was stolen by Shand and his potential winning half-court try at the buzzer missed its mark.
Barton led for most of the second overtime but the Lions were able to tie the contest for a 10th and final time with two made free throws by Luke Miller with just over two minutes left. Junior Dominique Byrd put the Bulldogs back in front for good by making the front end of two free throws on BC's next possession. After an Emmanuel miss, Veasley launched his fourth successful 3-pointer with less than 90 seconds left to give Barton at 96-92 advantage. Stanley made two consecutive layups and then a pair of free throws down the stretch to pull the visitors within one possession three different times but Barton made 8 of 10 free throws in the final 40 seconds to stay ahead at the final buzzer including 3 of 4 made free throws by Veasley and then 5 of 6 by Shand.
Barton led by seven at halftime, 44-37, and built its lead to as many as 14 early in the second half 51-37. The Bulldogs continued to lead by 13 midway through the period but Emmanuel closed the half on a 28-15 run over the final 10 minutes to erase the deficit and nearly win before Sharpe hit his clutch 3-pointer.
BC was outrebounded for the first time this season (55-51) but the Bulldogs had the hotter hand especially from long range. Barton fired at 48.6% (35-72) from the field including 7 of 15 (46.7%) from 3-point distance while holding the Lions to 42.0% (34-81) accuracy and an icy 4 of 26 (15.4%) from behind the arc.
Byrd and Canoy each tallied nine rebounds. Byrd and senior Daniel McClendon both scored seven points and Canoy finished with six points.
Barton next visits league foe Erskine College in Due West, S.C., on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
