Box Score WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Barton College men's basketball team challenged NCAA Division I member UNC Wilmington for most of the first half in its exhibition game on Sunday, but the Seahawks closed the period on an 8-1 run and opened the second half on a 16-0 spurt to claim an 81-51 victory.
Senior Jake Veasley sparked Barton's early success, scoring eight straight points on a layup and two 3-pointers to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the game at 19-13 with 7:53 to play in the first period.
Barton still led as late as 3:39 to play in the half after a pair of Veasley free throws put the Bulldogs up 27-26, but UNC Wilmington scored 24 of the game's next 25 points to take command of the contest.
Veasley closed the first half with 13 points and ended the game with 20 points – the high for either team – four rebounds and four steals. Ryan Canoy and R.J. Claypool each added six points and three rebounds for the Bulldogs.
UNCW was paced by Trey Grundy, who tossed in 13 points and added seven rebounds. Chris Flemmings, making his first appearance in a Seahawks uniform since transferring from Barton, added 12 points and eight rebounds, and C.J. Bryce chipped in 10 points. Mark Matthews contributed nine points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Barton was limited to 24 percent shooting the game (15 of 61) while UNC Wilmington made 52 percent from the floor (30 of 57).
The victory was the 28th consecutive exhibition win for the Seahawks.
The Bulldogs will open their regular season on Friday when they host Young Harris College at 8 p.m. in the second game of the 45-Second Classic doubleheader. University of Mount Olive and USC Aiken will face off in the opener at 6 p.m.
