WILSON, N.C. - The Barton men's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2026-27 season with an 89-77 triumph over Wingate (0-2) Friday night at Wilson Gymnasium in the second game of the annual 45 Classic.

Barton senior guard Xavier Tubbs-Matthews (Fayetteville, N.C.) led all scorers with 23 points including 14 after halftime while senior guard Sean Quick-Streeter (Columbia, S.C.) added 20 points as the home team rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to take the win.

Wingate - which led by a 60-47 score with just under 15 minutes remaining in the contest - was paced by Jordan Miller (Rock Hill, S.C.) with 22 points.

Wingate turned the ball over 17 times including 10 times in the second half with several critical ones late down the stretch which helped Barton overtake the visitors.  

Barton shot 50 percent from the field (31-of-62) with four players reaching double figures in the triumph.

In the first game of the classic, Augusta downed Mount Olive by an 89-77 score.  On the second day of the 45 Second Classic on Saturday, Barton hosts Augusta at 1:00 p.m., while Wingate takes on Mount Olive beginning at 11:00 a.m.