CENTRAL, S.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (16-10, 14-5) guaranteed itself a first-round bye in the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament with a 104-86 victory over Southern Wesleyan (5-22, 5-14) Saturday afternoon at Tysinger Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs, now in sole possession of third place in the league regular season standings, received a career-high and school single-game record-tying 52-point performance from junior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.). Hairston connected on 17-of-24 field goal attempts while hitting 16-of-17 free throw attempts as the Bulldogs won their third straight game and swept the season series from the Warriors.
Barton sophomore guard
Marcus Boykin (Clinton, N.C.) added 21 points and the duo combined to score 73 of the Bulldogs' 104 points. Barton, which led by a 53-43 advantage at halftime, was powered by its prowess at the free throw line. The Bulldogs hit 30-of-35 (86 percent) from the charity stripe. Barton also shot 53 percent (36-of-68) from the floor in the victory.
Southern Wesleyan was paced by Raevon Allen (Lexington, S.C.) with 21 points and was one of four players to notch double figures for the Warriors. The home team was also strong from the free throw line, connecting on 30-of-37 free throw attempts.
Barton hits the road again on Wednesday to take on Chowan in Murfreesboro, N.C., beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the league regular season finale while Southern Wesleyan faces King in Bristol, Tenn., on Wednesday starting at 7:00 p.m.
