Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – On a cold, snowy night outside, the Barton College men's basketball team sizzled inside Wilson Gymnasium, routing Southern Wesleyan University, 89-59, in a Conference Carolinas matchup.
The 30-point margin of victory was the largest for the Bulldogs in more than four years.
After spotting the Warriors an early 5-4 lead, the Bulldogs (9-4, 4-1) turned up the heat with their pressure defense, forcing five missed shots and five turnovers in setting up an 18-0 run over the game's next five minutes.
Southern Wesleyan (2-11, 1-4) ended the scoreless drought with a 3-pointer by Darius Sharpe, but Barton went on another 13-1 spurt to lead 35-9 just halfway through the opening period.
Barton made 15 of 22 attempts from the field in those first 10 minutes and forced a total of nine turnovers in cruising to the big lead.
On the night, the Bulldogs shot 51 percent from the field while holding the Warriors to just 35 percent, and forced SWU into 25 turnovers while committing just seven.
Senior Daniel Westbrook scored 12 points and collected six rebounds in a nine-minute span of the first half, and finished the night with a team-high 20 points and seven boards. Freshman Jeff Gordon chipped in 13 points, with sophomore Matt Woods and freshman Isaiah Buck-Lowman each adding 10. Redshirt sophomore Dante Artis tossed in a career-high eight points.
Seniors Nick Ellison and Tyler Thayer both contributed five rebounds, and freshman Michael Boykin handed out five assists to help in the BC victory.
Sharpe paced Southern Wesleyan with a game-high 21 points, and teammate Justice McCullough pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds in a losing cause.
With Saturday's scheduled game against Limestone College postponed due to the winter storm, Barton's next contest is now slated for Wednesday, Jan. 11, at home against King University. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.
