MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Barton College men's basketball team (2-5, 2-5) fell on the road Tuesday night to rival Mount Olive (4-7, 4-7), 70-63, in a Conference Carolinas contest at Kornegay Arena. The game was part of the 55th annual Pickle Classic.
Mount Olive's Johnny Hughes (Fayetteville, N.C.) poured in a game-high 32 points to go along with 13 rebounds while Alan Treakle (Arlington, Va.) added 16 points and hit all 12 free throw attempts as the Trojans overcame a 28-17 deficit to start the contest to avenge an earlier loss to the Bulldogs and take the victory.
Barton was led by sophomore guard
Brandon Burford (Charlotte, N.C.) with 23 points on 11-of-17 shooting and senior guard
Isaiah Reddish (Durham, N.C.) added 14 points in the setback.
Trailing by a 33-31 score at halftime, Mount Olive scored the first eight points to start the second half to take the lead for good. Barton got within one point on two occasions – 50-49 and 58-57 – but Mount Olive was able to stay ahead the rest of the way. Mount Olive's performance from the free throw line in the second half – 20-of-22 (91 percent) – proved to be the difference.
Barton returns home to host Erskine on Friday at 5:00 p.m., at Wilson Gymnasium while Mount Olive hosts Belmont Abbey in conference action Friday night beginning at 7:00 p.m.
