WILSON, N.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (10-5, 8-0) erased a seven-point deficit with just under four minutes left to pull out a 71-70 victory over Belmont Abbey (10-6, 6-2) Saturday afternoon in a Conference Carolinas showdown at Wilson Gymnasium.
Barton sophomore guard
Marcus Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) led all scorers with 24 points while junior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) added 17 points including 11 in the second half as the Bulldogs rallied from a 66-59 deficit with 3:39 left to win their fourth straight game.
Barton, which remained alone atop the league standings and the lone undefeated team in conference play, broke a 70-70 all tie with a free throw from Hairston with 12 seconds left and a desperate three-point attempt by Belmont Abbey at the top of the key rimmed out as time expired and the Bulldogs held on for the win.
Belmont Abbey's Mario Lacy, Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio) tallied a double-double for the Crusaders – 17 points and 13 rebounds – and Wade Jackson (Washington, D.C.) and Mason Taylor (Grandview, Mo.) added 13 points each as the Crusaders saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end.
Barton junior guard
Reese McDonald (Raleigh, N.C.) added 11 points and hit three key treys including one late in the second half with 56 seconds left as the Bulldogs improved to 8-1 at home this season.
Barton hits the road to take on King on Monday evening in a league contest beginning at 6:30 p.m., in Bristol, Tenn., while Belmont Abbey returns home to host Chowan Monday at 7:00 p.m.
