CENTRAL, S.C. – The Barton men's basketball team (10-9, 6-5) fell to Southern Wesleyan (6-12, 4-8), 102-98, in a high-scoring affair Saturday afternoon in a Conference Carolinas contest at historic Tysinger Gymnasium.
The Warriors, who trailed by 11 points seven-and-a-half minutes into the game by a 20-9 score, were led by R.J. Bell (Roebuck, S.C.) with 21 points and Reco Hallmon (Atlanta, Ga.) with 20 points in the victory.
Southern Wesleyan's Eric Hackett (Lexington, Ky.) tipped-in his own missed shot to give the Warriors a 97-96 advantage with 1:23 remaining in the contest which proved to be the game-winner for the home team. Hackett finished with 16 points and Cristopher Osobaye (Bronx, N.Y.) totaled 17 points as four players reached double figures for the Warriors.
Barton also put four players in double figures including a game-high 29 points from senior guard
Shawn Nelson (Miami, Fla.).
Nelson also connected on 15-of-19 free throws and junior guard
Jaylen Faber (Columbia, S.C.) added 15 points for the Bulldogs, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.
Southern Wesleyan also avenged an earlier loss to Barton: a 98-88 setback on Saturday, November 23, in Wilson, N.C. The Warriors shot 54 percent (37-of-68) from the field in the victory as well.
Barton next hosts league-rival UNC Pembroke on Wednesday night at Wilson Gymnasium beginning at 7:00 p.m., while Southern Wesleyan faces Emmanuel in Franklin Springs, Ga., on Tuesday starting at 7:00 p.m.
