Box Score FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The Barton men's basketball team (7-12, 5-7) came up short to Emmanuel (Ga.) (12-8, 9-3), 87-79, in the NCAA Division II National Game of the Week on ESPN3 in Conference Carolinas game at the Shaw Athletic Center.
The Lions' K.J. Jones, II (Atlanta, Ga.) came off the bench to score a team-high 21 points and Emmanuel was able to hold off Barton after taking a 15-point lead – 73-58 with 7:41 remaining in the game – on its way to a third straight victory.
Barton junior center Blake Burdack (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA) scored a career-high 32 points in addition to 15 rebounds while connecting on all 20 free throw attempts despite the loss. Junior forward Isaiah Reddish (Durham, N.C.), the team's leading scorer, added 19 points in the losing effort. Thanks to Burdack, Barton connected on 33-of-38 free throw attempts.
Emerson McClung (Alpharetta, Ga.) scored 15 points for the Lions, who moved into sole possession of first place in the league regular season standings and swept the season series from the Bulldogs.
Barton's road stand continues on Tuesday when the Bulldogs face Limestone in Gaffney, S.C., beginning at 7:30 p.m., while Emmanuel plays Southern Wesleyan in league action on the road Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
