BANNER ELK, N.C. – Four Bobcats scored in double figures, led by
Drew Gardner who notched his tenth career double-double with a team-high 14 points and game-high 10 rebounds, but it was not enough as visiting Barton outscored Lees-McRae 33-18 from behind the three-point line en route to clinching a 100-81 win in the regular-season finale this afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Barton – 100; Lees-McRae – 81
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Barton (15-13/13-11), Lees-McRae (14-13/12-12)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Gardner also chipped in four assists, while Sidney Dollar added 13 points, five rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and a season-high seven steals, which is the most in a single game by a Bobcat since 2015.
- Malik McConnell and Jaylin Stewart both chipped in 10 points and combined for four rebounds and two assists.
- Follie Bogan and Timon Jones adeed eight and seven points respectively.
- Lees-McRae sprinted out of the gates by scoring 16 of the first 24 points to grab early momentum.
- Barton responded with a run of their own in the closing minutes of the first half to even the score at 36-36 and used a buzzer-beating jumper to hold a 50-46 halftime lead.
- After Lees-McRae used a jumper by Dollar to even the score at 50-50, the Bulldogs used a 27-7 run to extend the lead back to 77-57 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
- Barton made timely baskets down the stretch en route to clinching the conference win.
- The Bobcats held a 16-10 edge in points off turnovers and outscored the visitors 50-34 in the painted area.
- The Bulldogs maintained a slim 18-17 edge in fastbreak points and a 41-37 advantage in bench production.
FOR THE FOES:
- Marcus Boykin finished with a game-high 34 points, while three other Bulldogs scored in double figures.
UP NEXT:
No. 7 Lees-McRae will battle No. 10 Chowan in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Championships on Sunday at 5 p.m., with the winner playing on Monday against No. 6 Barton.
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