WILSON, N.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (5-4) stepped out of league play and fell to Peach Belt Conference-power USC Aiken (8-3), 68-64, Thursday afternoon at Wilson Gymnasium.
The Pacers, winners of three straight contests, had three players reached double figures in scoring led by Karon Boyd (Concord, N.C.) and Tyler Johnson (Athens, Ga.) with 16 points each.
Barton sophomore guard
Marcus Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) led all scorers with 20 points while junior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) added 11 points but the Bulldogs were hurt from behind the three-point line. Barton hit just five-of-20 treys (25 percent) in the losing effort.
USC Aiken jumped out to a 35-28 advantage at intermission and led by as many as 12 points in the second half – 53-41 with 11 minutes remaining – before holding off a furious Bulldogs' rally to take the victory. USC Aiken also held a 42-35 edge on the boards. Barton lost despite hitting 15-of-16 free throws (94 percent) on the afternoon.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play on Saturday when the Bulldogs host Converse beginning at 4:00 p.m., while USC Aiken next hosts Erskine on Saturday, December 31, at 3:30 p.m.
