WILSON, N.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (1-2) came all the way back from 24 points down to stun Coker (3-1), 87-77, in overtime on the first day of the annual 45 Second Classic Friday night at Wilson Gymnasium.
Barton sophomore guard
Marcus Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) and senior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) combined for 50 points as the Bulldogs rallied from a 32-8 deficit midway through the first half to notch their first victory of the year.
Boykin finished with a game-high 27 points and tipped in his own missed shot with time running out in the second half to force overtime tied at 70-all. Hairston added 23 points and connected on 12-of-13 from the charity stripe in the victory.
Coker, which suffered its first loss of the year, had four players in double figures paced by Demar Anderson (Charlotte, N.C.) with 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds for a double-double. The Cobras started the game red shot – scoring the first 15 points of the contest – and shot 50 percent in the first half (16-of-32) to take a 40-27 advantage entering intermission. Mahmoud Bangura (Lorton, Va.) added 16 points in the losing effort for the visitors.
The extra frame was all Barton as the Bulldogs outscored the Cobras by a 17-7 margin and hit all four field goals and eight free throw attempts in the victory. Five players finished in double figures for the Bulldogs, who held a distinctive edge on the boards – 54-30 – and finished 25-of-30 from the free throw line.
In the final games of the 45 Second Classic on Saturday, Coker takes on Mount Olive beginning at Noon while Barton hosts Saint Augustine's beginning at 2:00 p.m. Saint Augustine's downed Mount Olive, 80-77, in the first contest on Friday.
