Wilson, NC – Erskine lost on the road to Barton College 68 to 55 in Conference Carolinas men’s basketball action at Wilson Gymnasium.  Erskine drops to 2-15 overall and 1-9 in conference while Barton climbs to 12-8 overall and 7-5 in conference.

Erskine, who never lead in the game, kept the game close throughout the first half.  With 6:15 remaining and leading 20 to 17, Barton looked ready to blow the game open with an 8-2 run, fueled by two Erskine turnovers.  However, the young Fleet team responded with their own 9-3 run to close out the half and stay within 3 points at 31-28.  Erskine shot an impressive 55% from the floor in the half but was undone by 15 turnovers that Barton converted for 18 points.

After Barton bolted out to a 37-30 lead to start the second half, Erskine tied the game at 38-38 on a layups by Adison Lawrence and Filip Pejovic (Prijepolje, Serbia, Prijepoljska Gimnazija), a 3-point basket by DeShaun Hall and a free throw by Casey Sorrell (Walton, KY, Simon Kenton High School).  Erskine remained within five points over the next six minutes.   Up 52-48 with 8:36 left to play, Barton scored seven unanswered points over the next minute and half to stretch their lead to eleven points at 59-48.  The game concluded with a steady flow of free throws and turnovers by both teams with Barton winning 68 to 55.

Freshmen Adison Lawrence (Greer, SC, Eastside High School) and DeShaun Hall (Inman, SC, Landrum High School)led the Fleet with 13 points each.  Sophomore Chris Gore (Myrtle Beach, SC, Myrtle Beach High School)grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds.

Jaren Haley led the Bulldogs with a game-high 29 points, including 6 of 9 from long-range.  L.J. Dunn earned a “double-double” with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Fleet play Belmont-Abbey at home on Monday.  Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Box Score