Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Sophomore Chris Flemmings matched his career-high point total and junior Khari Faison notched his second straight double-double against King University as host Barton College crushed Conference Carolinas frontrunner King University, 87-61, on Saturday night in the Dog House.
The Bulldogs doubled up the Tornado, 56-28, in the second half by making 8 of 13 (61.5%) three-pointers and shooting 58.3% from the field in the final 20 minutes. Barton (11-9 overall, 7-3 conf.) moved within a half game of King (10-9, 7-2) for first place in the conference standings by halting the Tornado's six-game win streak.
Flemmings scored 24 of his game-high 32 points in the second half with a hot hand by converting 11 of 17 shots including a 4 of 7 attempts from behind the three-point arc. Faison netted 11 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds en route to his second double-double of the season, both of which came against KU. Freshman Kendall Patterson swished 10 points and handed out a season-high seven assists. Junior Ryan Canoy tallied eight points and eight rebounds while senior Brian McNair and freshman Jordan Sharpe also both chipped in eight points.
King held a 33-31 halftime advantage in attempting to beat Barton for a fifth consecutive time. Freshman Hunter LeVeau scored 14 of his team-high 22 points in the first half to pace all players at the intermission.
The Tornado, who entered the game ranked second in NCAA Division II with 13.9 made three-pointers per game, has had its two worst 3-point performances of the season against the Bulldogs. BC held King to just seven made treys for a second time this season and 23.3% from long range.
The top two teams in the league played a one-possession game for the first 10 minutes of play before a freshman C.J. Good 3-pointer at the 9:56 mark gave King an 18-14 lead. The visitors were able to extend the lead to nine points a couple of times including 28-19 after LeVeau launched an accurate trifecta.
Barton finished the half on a 12-3 run featuring layups by Patterson and senior Evan Shelton, five points by Sharpe, and a banked-in 3-pointer at the buzzer by Patterson.
The Bulldogs kept the momentum to start the second half with McNair sinking a 3-pointer on the opening possession. King briefly regained the lead for the last time on a sophomore Malcolm St. Louis transition layup, but Faison scored on Barton's ensuing trip down the court to give the hosts the lead for the final 19 minutes of play.
Barton started the half on a 15-2 run to construct a 46-35 advantage. The outburst was highlighted by a Flemmings steal and fast-break layup; a McNair steal and lead pass for a Faison dunk; a layup by freshman Travis McEachern on a nice pass by Faison; and another Sharpe trey on an assist by McNair.
The Tornado attempted to storm back cutting the deficit to six points, 50-44, on a junior Logan Lyle layup, but Barton quickly regained a double-digit cushion it would keep for the final 12 minutes by scoring the 14 points. Flemmings scored 11 of those points for the knockout blow.
Barton shot 58% in the second half to finish at 53.2% (33 of 62) for the game including 11 of 22 (50%) from the perimeter.
The Bulldogs won the battle of the boards, 40-32, and made eight steals including a pair of thefts by Canoy, Flemmings, McNair and Patterson. BC recorded assists on 24 of 33 made field goals including Patterson's seven dimes and five helpers by McNair.
King matched a season-low scoring output with its 61 points in suffering its first defeat since Dec. 21. LeVeau was the only Tornado player in double-figures scoring. Lyle – an All-Conference performer last year and KU's leading scorer this season – was held to a season-low four points on 1 of 7 shooting.
Barton wraps up a three-game home stand against Belmont Abbey College on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
