FLORENCE, S.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (6-9, 3-2) couldn't convert a game-tying lay-up with time running out in falling to Francis Marion (6-8, 4-2), 93-91, in a Conference Carolinas contest Wednesday evening at the Smith University Center.
Five players reached double figures for the Patriots – including a game-high 20 points from Ibrahim Wattara (Bronx, N.Y.) – as Francis Marion rallied from a 10-point deficit early in the second half to push its winning streak to three games.
Barton senior guard
Donaven Hairston (Atlanta, Ga.) led all scorers with 27 points while senior guard
Jett Fortuny (Cary, N.C.) finished with 18 points and five treys – all before intermission – but the Bulldogs couldn't hold a 61-51 lead with just under 17 minutes remaining.
Barton senior forward
Trevon Spencer (Columbia, N.C.) added 17 points and eight rebounds for the visitors in the setback. Francis Marion shot 50 percent (33-of-66) from the floor and hit 22-of-34 free throws in outlasting Barton for the win.
In the next round of Conference Carolinas contests on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:00 p.m., Barton returns home to host Emmaneul at Wilson Gymnasium while Francis Marion travels to Banner Elk, N.C., to take on Lees-McRae.
