Box Score WILSON, N.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (5-9, 3-4) saw a 16-point second-half lead disappear in a 93-83 overtime loss to Belmont Abbey (10-3, 6-0) Thursday night in a Conference Carolinas game at Wilson Gymnasium.
The Crusaders' DeQuan Abrom (Washington, D.C.), the league's leading scorer at 26.4 points per game, finished with 31 points including 22 after intermission as Belmont Abbey remained the lone unbeaten squad in the conference. Abrom forced overtime with a lay-up with 26 seconds to tie the score at 78.
Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey's Ryan Shaffer (Cary, N.C.) opened the extra frame with a three-pointer which proved to be the game-winner as the Crusaders were able to rally from a 56-40 deficit early in the second half for the triumph. Shaffer finished with seven points on the night.
Four players scored in double figures for the Bulldogs including 17 points off the bench from junior guard Shemar Hudson (Wilson, N.C.) in the setback. Barton senior guards Michael Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) and Jeff Gordon (Woodbridge, Va.) added 15 points each but the Bulldogs were done in by 22 turnovers which led to 35 points for the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey also beat Barton for the second time in less than two weeks.
In the next round of Conference Carolinas games on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., Barton faces Lees-McRae in Banner Elk, N.C., while Belmont Abbey remains on the road to play North Greenville in Tigerville, S.C.
