Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Barton College shot 50% from the field and turned 18 Belmont Abbey turnovers into 27 extra points en route to an 87-76 Conference Carolinas men's basketball victory on Thursday night in the Dog House.
Sophomore guard Chris Flemmings and junior forward Khari Faison flirted with double-doubles in helping the Bulldogs remain just a half game out of first place in the conference standings. Barton (12-9 overall, 8-3 conf.) improved to 7-3 at home with its seventh win in nine games since the start of the New Year.
Senior forward Darryl Durham kept the Crusaders within striking distance despite trailing for the final 27 minutes with game-high totals of 23 points and 14 rebounds. Durham was 10 of 13 from the floor and pulled down nine offensive boards in the process of recording his seventh double-double.
Belmont Abbey (8-13, 4-7) led for most of the first 13 minutes with sizzling shooting from the floor. The Crusaders made 11 of their first 16 shots (68.8%) to maintain a 29-25 edge at the 8:57 mark. However, the Bulldogs defense stepped up in the late stages of the first half to close the period on a 22-4 run.
Barton held the Abbey to just 2 of 10 shooting to end the half and the Bulldog defenders forced 12 of the Crusaders 18 turnovers in the first 20 minutes to race out to the 47-33 halftime advantage.
Senior Zach Faircloth led BC's rally scoring all 12 of his points in the first half on 5 of 6 precision. Faircloth nailed a 3-pointer with 7:18 on the clock to give the Royal Blue and White the lead for first time. The Bulldogs scored the next four points on a pair of Faison free throws and a transition hoop by Flemmings to remain in front for good.
Barton made all five of its 3-pointers in the first half (5 of 10) including a last-minute trey by senior Brian McNair to increase the Bulldogs advantage to 14 points at the intermission. McNair was held to seven points but he stepped up with team-high totals of seven assists and four steals.
The Crusaders closed to gap to seven points early in the second half on a Durham layup but the Bulldogs barked back with baskets by freshman Kendall Patterson and senior Evan Shelton on their next two possessions. Barton kept at least a three-possession cushion throughout the final frame.
Flemmings scored 13 of his team-high 19 points in the second half while Faison converted on a stellar 8 of 10 free throw attempts to finish with a season-high 18 points. Faison and Flemmings both just missed double-doubles with nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
Barton's bench outscored the Crusaders reserves by 30 points, 38-8, with Faircloth netting 12; junior Daniel McClendon swishing eight points; and Shelton, Patterson and freshman Jordan Sharpe all canning six points.
The Bulldogs shot 50% (32 of 64) from the field and 66.7% (18 of 27) from the free throw line. Belmont Abbey went 27 of 60 (45.0%) from the floor and 17 of 24 (70.8%) from the charity stripe.
Three other Crusaders reached double digits with senior Chris Davis providing 17 points, junior Justin Kuhlman netting 11 and junior Jonathan Garrett tallying 10. Kuhlman added eight assists to lead all players.
Barton next visits league foe North Greenville University on Saturday at 4 p.m.
