Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College men's basketball team suffered its fourth straight loss Saturday night as the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan earned a 64-62 victory over the Bulldogs in Wilson Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs struggled to shoot 35.4 percent from the floor and a season-low 41.9 percent from the foul line (13-for-31) as Southern Wesleyan was able to shoot at a 45.5 percent clip and hold a 43-39 advantage in the rebounding category.
Barton was able to build an early 12-2 lead over the game's first seven minutes of action, highlighted by a Kendall Patterson three-pointer to push the lead to double digits.
Southern Wesleyan was able to close to gap a four-point deficit following a 14-3 run over a four-minute span until junior Jake Veasley was able to convert an and-one play to extend the Barton lead to 22-15 at the 7:32 mark.
The lead would continue to hold for the Bulldogs throughout the remainder of the half, however, the Warrior were able to get within one point after six straight points from the league's leading scorer in Cameron Solomon with 3:09 left in the half. Barton held strong and carried a slim 28-25 lead into the halftime break.
The Bulldog offense was able to score 18 points in the paint over first 20 minutes and convert six second chance points, but the lead was not to remain intact.
Senior Khari Faison opened the second half of paly with a jumper but the Warriors would take a three-point lead with 15:27 remaining after Solomon scored 10 unanswered points.
A Daniel Westbrook three-pointer tied the game once again at 36-36 but the Barton offense remained cold for much of the final half of play.
The Warriors lead would continue to grow to as large 11 points on various occasion throughout the half, however, the Bulldogs used a 17-6 run over a four-minute stretch to tie the game on a clutch three-pointer from sophomore Jordan Sharpe with 47 second remaining.
Southern Wesleyan regained the lead on a layup with 22 second remaining and a missed free throw in the final 10 seconds would prove to be detrimental as the Warriors sealed the two-point road win with a free throw from Kenny Holmes with six seconds remaining.
Sharpe had a look from long range in the closing seconds but the shot would not fall for the Bulldogs.
Freshman Danny Shand was Barton's top offensive performer, scoring 12 points to go along with six assists, while Faison narrowly missed a double-double in recording 11 points and nine rebounds. Sharped rounded out the double-digit scorers for Barton with 10 points in 22 minutes off of the bench.
The Bulldogs will travel to North Greenville University for a matchup in Tigerville, S.C. on Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m.
