Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Barton College junior Jake Veasley scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to lead the Bulldogs in an 84-80 win over visiting North Greenville University on Wednesday in a Conference Carolinas matchup at Wilson Gymnasium.
Barton (8-6, 4-2) extended a four-point halftime cushion to as many as 13 points seven minutes into the second half on a Veasley dunk, but the Crusaders (8-3, 4-2) closed to within one on a 3-pointer by Korval McElroy with 4:19 to play.
Veasley, who scored 32 in a loss at King on Sunday, immediately responded with a three-point play, and Barton went back up by seven on a 3-pointer by Jordan Sharpe with 2:10 to go. North Greenville closed to within a single possession on two occasions in the final 30 seconds, but each time the Bulldogs made crucial free throws to keep the Crusaders at bay.
Barton (8-6, 4-2) turned in one of its worst shooting nights of the season, making just 38 percent from the floor (28 of 73), but overcame that effort by collecting 24 offensive rebounds and 46 total, nine more than NGU. The Bulldogs also turned in a solid performance at the free throw line, making 20 of 29 on the night (72 percent), including 6-of-8 in the final 30 seconds.
Just the opposite was true for North Greenville, which saw a seven-game winning streak snapped. The Crusaders shot 56 percent from the field in the game (33 of 59), including 64 percent (18 of 28) in the first half. They did so by pounding the ball inside, scoring 50 of their 80 points in the contest in the paint.
In addition to Veasley's 27 points, the Bulldogs received double-figure scoring nights from Sharpe and Daniel McClendon, who scored seven straight points for BC late in the first half to send Barton to intermission with a 43-40 advantage. Dominique Byrd pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Royal Blue and White.
McElroy paced North Greenville with 20 points and also added six rebounds. Lashawn Alexander collected 16 points, Micah Parker chipped in 15 points and six boards, and Spencer Reaves contributed 12 points.
The outcome left both teams tied for third place in Conference Carolinas. Barton will host Belmont Abbey College on Saturday at night at 7:30 p.m.
