BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Barton men's basketball team (11-5, 9-0) pulled out another close win and remained perfect in Conference Carolinas play with an 83-80 victory over King (5-10, 4-5) Monday evening at the Student Center Complex.
Barton senior forward
Trevon Spencer (Columbia, N.C.), the reigning league defensive player of the week, lived up to that billing with a 22-point, seven-block performance while junior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga) and sophomore guard
Marcus Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) added 18 points each as the Bulldogs ran their winning streak to five games. Boykin was named the Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Player of the Week earlier in the day as well.
King was led by Michael Mays (Bristol, Tenn.) with 25 points but the Tornado turned the ball over 22 times and lost despite a 25-for-27 performance (93 percent) from the charity stripe.
King hit all 21 free throw attempts in the second half and cut a 41-28 halftime deficit to one point – 81-80 with two seconds left – but Hairston hit a pair from the line to round out the scoring. The Bulldogs also struck gold at the free throw line, making 31-of-38 attempts to remain alone atop the league regular season standings.
Barton returns home to host No. 13 UNC Pembroke in a Conference Carolinas showdown at Wilson Gymnasium on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., while King remains at home to face Belmont Abbey Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
