WILSON, N.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (0-1) opened the 2023-24 season with an 82-70 setback to Columbus State (1-0) Friday evening in the second game of the Bulldogs' annual 45 Second Classic at Wilson Gymnasium.
The Cougars' Wisdom Uboh (McDonough, Ga.) scored a game-high 17 points and was one of four players to score in double figures for Columbus State in the victory.
Columbus State held a 36-29 held advantage at halftime and pushed its lead to as much as 18 points – 58-40 with 12:13 remaining on a trey by Jehloni Jones (Sugar Hill, Ga.) – in the second half. Jones finished with 11 points while the Cougars, as a team, totaled 11 treys in the win.
Barton was led by senior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) with 14 points but was just one of two players to score in double figures for the home team. Junior guard
Justin Stephens (Clayton, N.C.) also reached double figures for Barton, totaling 11 points off the bench.
Columbus State held a 38-30 advantage in rebounding and forced Barton into 16 turnovers in the win.
In the first contest on Friday, Mount Olive fell to Augusta by a 96-86 score. On Saturday in the final day of the classic, Mount Olive takes on Columbus State at 11:00 a.m., while Barton hosts Augusta at 1:00 p.m.
