WILSON, N.C. – In a battle of the top two teams in Conference Carolinas, No. 10 UNC Pembroke (18-1, 10-1) pulled out a thrilling, 71-70 victory over Barton (11-6, 9-1) Wednesday evening in a nearly-packed Wilson Gymnasium.
The Braves, winners of 11 straight games, were led by JaJuan Carr (Burgaw, N.C.) with a team-high 23 points and was one of four players to score in double figures for the visitors in the victory. UNC Pembroke took a half-game lead over Barton in the league standings.
Sophomore guard
Marcus Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) nearly pulled off a triple-double with a game-high 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Bulldogs, who had a chance to win but a desperation three as time ran out was off the mark. Boykin also connected on 15-of-17 attempts from the charity stripe.
Barton junior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) finished with 15 points and junior guard
Reese McDonald (Raleigh, N.C.) added 13 points and hit three key treys, but the Bulldogs saw their five-game winning streak snapped.
With the score tied at 68-all with just under a minute left, UNC Pembroke's Elijah Cobb (Murfreesboro, N.C.) hit the game-winning three-pointer and the Braves were able to hold on for the victory. Cobb finished with 10 points for the Braves, who shot 50 percent (25-of-50) from the floor despite 21 turnovers.
Barton will look to return to form on Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to take on Converse in a league contest beginning at 4:00 p.m., while UNC Pembroke faces Francis Marion Saturday at 4:00 p.m., as well in Florence, S.C.
