Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Redshirt senior Ryan Canoy tossed in a career-high 24 points and three other players reached double-figures as Barton College downed visiting USC Aiken, 86-77, on day two of the 45-Second Classic on Saturday in Wilson Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs (2-0) never trailed in the contest after taking a quick 6-0 lead on baskets by Dominique Byrd, Jake Veasley and Danny Shand. USC Aiken (0-2) pulled within two at 9-7 on a jumper by Arbry Butler, but consecutive 3-pointers by Tyler Thayer and R.J. Claypool and a fastbreak layup by Veasley after a steal pushed Barton's lead to 10 just over six minutes into the game.
Canoy, a resident of Shelby, N.C., nearly matched his previous career-high of 17 in the first half, scoring 16 points in a span of less than nine minutes, starting with a layup at the 10:13 mark. By the time he recorded his final point of the period on a free throw with 1:30 left before intermission, Barton had extended its lead to 17, 47-30.
USC Aiken made two free throws to cut the margin to 15, but Thayer banked home a 3-pointer from 35 feet at the buzzer to end the first period, giving the Bulldogs an 18-point margin and 50 points for the second straight half. BC posted 51 points in the second half of Friday night's win over Young Harris College.
Canoy started the second half the same way he finished the first, sinking a jumper to extend Barton's advantage to 20 for the first time. The Bulldogs grew their lead to as many as 24 points at 68-44 on another 3-pointer by Thayer with 11:14 to play.
However, Barton didn't score another field goal for the next three minutes and the Pacers quickly poured in four 3-pointers to cut the margin to 12. A layup by Jevon Patton, who led all scorers in the game with 25, cut the deficit to just 10 with 3:04 still to play.
Barton finally got a field goal by turning back to Canoy, who cut to the basket for a layup off a great pass from Westbrook. Claypool followed with a layup on the next possession, and the Bulldogs were back up 14 with 2:25 left.
USC Aiken clawed back to single digits at 82-73 on a three-point play by Patton, but Canoy answered once more with a layup on the other end off a Matt Woods assist.
In addition to the 24 points and six rebounds from Canoy, Barton received 13 points each from Claypool and Westbrook. Claypool also had seven rebounds and six assists, while Westbrook chipped in six rebounds. Veasley added 11 points and Shand handed out a career-high nine assists.
Keith Belfield had four 3-pointers and 17 total points for the Pacers, while Butler contributed eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
As a team, Barton shot better than 50 percent from the field, including nearly 56 percent in the decisive first half. USC Aiken managed just 37 percent in the first half, but averaged nearly 52 percent in the second half to help its rally.
Barton will face its first road test of the year on Tuesday when it travels to Fayetteville State for a 7 p.m. contest.
