WILSON, N.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (14-13, 12-11) saw its five-game winning streak come to an end with a 103-75 setback to No. 9 UNC Pembroke (24-2, 21-2) Tuesday night in a Conference Carolinas game and the home regular season finale Tuesday evening at Wilson Gymnasium.
The Braves, who have already clinched the 2021-22 league regular season championship, was powered by Tyrell Kirk (Whiteville, N.C.) with a career-high 41 points on 17-of-22 field goal shooting as UNC Pembroke won its 11th straight road game and swept the season series from the Bulldogs.
UNC Pembroke hit eight three-pointers in the first half which gave the visitors a 56-38 edge at intermission and UNC Pembroke never looked back. The Bulldogs, led by sophomore guard
Malik Bryant (Fort Mill, S.C.) with 17 points, tried to keep pace with the Braves but the deficit was too great to overcome.
UNC Pembroke's Jordan Ratliffe (Gibson, N.C.) added 20 points as the Braves shot 58 percent (41-of-71) from the floor and hit 11 three-pointers in the victory. UNC Pembroke also held a 50-34 advantage on the boards.
Barton sophomore guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) chipped in with 16 points and three treys.
Barton faces Lees-McRae in the regular season finale Thursday at 7:00 p.m., in Banner Elk, N.C., for a chance to host a conference tournament game while UNC Pembroke returns home to face North Greenville on Thursday evening beginning at 7:00 p.m., as well. UNC Pembroke will be the top seed in the league tournament championship.
