WILSON, N.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (9-11, 7-9) put together a rousing second half to take the lead after a 16-point halftime deficit but Southern Wesleyan (13-5, 11-3) proved too much in a 98-89 victory by the Warriors Friday evening at Wilson Gymnasium.
Five players scored in double figures for the Warriors – including a team-high 23 points from Demarcus Addie (Manchester, Ga.) off the bench – as Southern Wesleyan won its sixth straight game. SWU, still in the hunt for the league title, also completed the season sweep of Barton.
Barton sophomore guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) led all scorers with 29 points as the Bulldogs rallied from a 53-37 halftime deficit to take the lead briefly in the second half but ultimately fell.
Barton freshman guard
Caleb Reams (Rocky Mount, N.C.) gave the Bulldogs a 65-64 advantage on a lay-up with just over 12 minutes left in the contest but Southern Wesleyan responded with 10 straight points to take the lead for good.
Southern Wesleyan sophomore guard Ta'Jay Dunlap (Columbia, S.C.) added 19 points and hit two of the Warriors' 10 three-pointers in the contest. The visitors held a 36-25 advantage on the boards and shot 61 percent (37-of-61) from the floor in the victory. Barton redshirt freshman guard
Marcus Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) added 17 points for the home team, who lost despite a 21-of-27 performance from the charity stripe.
Barton hosts North Greenville on Saturday in conference action at Wilson Gymnasium beginning at 4:00 p.m., while South Wesleyan faces Mount Olive in Mount Olive, N.C., at 4:00 pm., on Saturday as well.
