WILSON, N.C. — Senior forward Eddie Kershaw scored a game-high 26 points Wednesday night as the Barton College men's basketball team opened the 2009-10 season with a 110-82 romp of Virginia State University.
Kershaw (Youngstown, OH) canned 12-of-14 shots, pulled eight rebounds, had three assists, two steals and one block in 21 minutes of action for the Bulldogs, who never trailed and extended their home winning streak to 22 games (won all 15 last season). Barton will play Virginia Union and Mars Hill, respectively, in 5:30 p.m. tilts Friday and Saturday in the Pickle Classic at Mount Olive College.
Virginia State, which beat Barton in a season-opening game last season, was victimized by 29 turnovers as it fell to 0-2. The marathon game featured 61 fouls and 86 free-thow attempts. VSU was 35-of-50 (70 percent) from the line and Barton was 23-of-36 (64 percent). Barton shot 49 percent from the floor and the Trojans hit 33 percent.
Sophomore Barton guard Klevin Pollard (Upper Marlboro, MD) added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists; sophomore forward R.D. Dowdy (Chapel Hill, NC) delivered with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals; and senior forward L.J. Dunn (Raleigh, NC) tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds in just 14 minutes.
Dunn has been nursing an injured foot, thus saw limited court time. Junior point guard Greg Mammel (San Antonio, TX) totaled seven points, five assists and one steal, despite suffering a laceration above his eye in the first half that left blood all over the floor. Freshman point guard Gerald Boston (Burlington, NC) added nine points, four assists and two steals.
Barton bolted to a 4-0 lead, but VSU rallied within 13-12 at 15:09. A 22-4 run put the Bulldogs up 35-16 with 10:40 left in the half and they coasted to a 57-38 halftime cushion. The lead soared to 33 points at 90-57 with 9:04 to play, then both coaches substituted freely for the remainder of the contest. A thunderous dunk from senior forward Charles Gamble (Snow Hill, NC) made it 100-67 with 5:42 left.
Virginia State, which lost the rebounding battle 51-47, got 18 points and 14 rebounds from senior forward Jacobe Simpson (Charlotte, NC) , 13 points from Dijon Cuffee (Norfolk, VA) and 10 points from junior guard Brandon Plummer (Norfolk, VA).
Barton outscored the Trojans 37-22 in points off turnovers, 48-24 in the paint and 26-10 on second-effort points.
Tonight we will kick off home basketball in the Dog House (also known as Wilson Gymnasium) as our men's team hosts Virginia State University in a game beginning at 8 p.m.
Our tradition of excellence in athletics is greatly enhanced by the success of and support for our basketball teams. Come out and help us get behind our Bulldogs.For tonight's game, note that spectators will be admitted to the Dog House beginning at 7 p.m. If you attend the tailgate sponsored by the SGA, please keep that in mind that you need to finish eating before 7 p.m.
As we support our Bulldogs, it is important that our spectatorship at games adhere to the standards set by the NCAA, Conference Carolinas, and Barton College. The key item is that we support our team and not look for ways to be negative toward the opposing players and coaches or game officials. Among the things that are not permitted are: audible profanity, intimidating language which references race, gender, or sexual preference, and language which references jersey numbers, names, and/or physical characteristics.
We have a tradition a great success by our basketball teams in the Dog House. Other teams don't like playing here because our teams are good and it is a very loud spectatorship. Be loud, enjoy the experience, and focus on supporting the Bulldogs! We intentionally promote a family atmosphere at games and the Wilson community has responded greatly by attending games and supporting our team.
Current Barton students and employees are admitted free to home games by showing your current Barton ID card at the admissions table. Immediate family members of Barton employees will also be admitted free if they enter with the employee. If you do not have an ID with you at the door, you will either need to get the ID and return or pay the $5 admissions charge. The price for admission is $5 each for ages 13 and up. Ages 12 and under are admitted free, but must enter with a paying adult unless entering with an adult with a Barton ID or other pass. Children must be supervised at games by the adult(s) with whom they entered.
Note that the two bleacher sections immediately behind the visiting team bench are reserved for spectators supporting the visiting team. Please select another area to be seated.
Concessions will be available at all home games. Also note our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be doing a 50-50 raffle and also be accepting donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at all home games. Make-A-Wish is the designated non-profit organization for NCAA Division II and our SAAC has been very successful in raising funds for it in recent years. The raffle winner for each evening will be announced at halftime of the game, or at halftime of the men's game if it is a doubleheader.
The Bulldogs play in Mount Olive's Pickle Classic on Friday and Saturday. They take on Virginia Union at 5:30 on Friday evening and play Mars Hill at 5:30 on Saturday. A Pickle Classic web page has been set up on the Mount Olive athletics website at http://www.moc.edu/athletics/?44th_annual_pickle_classic.
Mount Olive College has announced that the admission price for all spectators for a one evening will be $10. Advanced tournament passes are available for $15 for the games on both evenings if purchased by 5 p.m. today. The phone number for the Athletic Office at Mount Olive College is 919-658-7759.
HIGH POINT, NC — The Barton College men's basketball team must replace the leadership, heart, scoring and rebounding of the most successful senior class in school history if it hopes to continue its run of outstanding seasons in 2009-10. However, the Conference Carolinas coaches still feel the Bulldogs are the team to beat, evidenced by Barton's pick as the No. 1 team in the 2009-10 Coaches Poll.
David King, Bobby Buffaloe and Errol Frails led Barton to a sensational 103-26 (.798) record, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament, three conference regular-season and tournament championships, East Region titles in 2006 and 2007, NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2009, Elite Eight appearances in 2006 and 2007 and the NCAA D-II National Championship in 2007.
The Bulldogs return 15 players from last year's 25-7 (17-3 conference) squad that shared the Conference Carolinas regular season championship and won the tournament title. Leading the Bulldogs this season will be 6-3 senior forward L.J. Dunn, a returning first-team All-Conference Carolinas choice. Dunn, an All-America candidate who made the All-Southeast Region team, averaged 14.6 points and 9.2 rebounds last season while shooting a sensational 61.4 percent from the floor. Junior guard Greg Mammel is the other returning starter. He averaged 7.3 points, three assists and 1.2 steals per game.
"It is a tremendous honor for the conference coaches to vote us No. 1," 14th-year head coach Ron Lievense said, "but it is not where you start, but where you finish. We have lost a lot of tremendous players that have left a great legacy at Barton. Now, it's time for all these young players here to leave their own legacy. I think a lot of this vote has to do with the success we have had in recent years. Our guys will have to step up to earn this honor."
Mount Olive College returns three All-Conference players from last year's regular season conference co-champions, including preseason second team All-American and 2008-09 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Kendrick Easley. The Trojans finished 18-10 last year and won a share of its second consecutive regular season Conference Carolinas title with a 17-3 mark. Easley ranked nationally and led the conference in scoring with a 21.2 points per game average. The senior guard was also nationally ranked in free throw percentage and three-point field goal percentage. Junior forward Craig Hayes and senior guard/forward Mike Holloman both earned All-Conference Carolinas honorable mention last year.
The Trojans graduated two-time All-Conference point guard and Trojan career assists leader Justin Melton, but bring back sophomore Derek Staton, who started eight games last year while Melton was injured. Mount Olive opens the season at Lenoir Rhyne before hosting the annual Mount Olive College Pickle Classic. This year's Classic includes two of the last five national champions in Barton and Virginia Union.
The 2009-10 Anderson University men's basketball team returns ten players, including four starters from a 15-win team (15-14 overall, 12-8 league) and fifth-place Conference Carolinas regular season finish. Last year's team ranked third in the conference and 33rd in the country, scoring 80.8 points per game. Guard Brandon Young and forward Stephen Cobb lead the group of returnees. Young, who is poised to join the 1,000-point club this season, was a First Team All-Conference performer last season after averaging 16.8 points per game. Cobb averaged 12.7 ppg and shot 43.8 percent from the field last year as a sophomore. He was named to the Conference Carolinas All-Tournament team. The Trojans return 85 percent of their potent scoring offense from last season and bolstered by two newcomers, look to be contenders this season.
Rounding out the men's poll 4-11 was: Pfeiffer, Belmont Abbey, Erskine, Queens, Limestone, Coker, Lees-McRae, and St. Andrews, respectively.
Some of the best Barton College basketball players from the last two decades will be back on the court Saturday when the men's and women's basketball teams stage their alumni games in Wilson Gymnasium. Anywhere from 15 to 20 former players each from the men's and women's programs will be on hand to take on the 2009-10 Bulldog squads.
The women's game is set for a 1 p.m. tipoff, with the men to follow at 2:30. Admission is free.
The women's game will feature Barton Hall of Famers Karen Edmonds Watson ('91), Michelle McClure Pittman ('91), Teasha Murphy ('96) and Tanisha Adams Dixon ('98). Murphy was just inducted into the Barton Hall on Oct. 23. Point guard Vivian Blue ('96), the school's all-time assists leader, will also take the floor.
Former conference Players of the Year Shemkia Reid ('02) and Keauna Vinson ('07) will also be playing. Former all-conference players Shindy Chalmers Taylor ('00), Seneka Blackwell ('02), Kelly Lamotta ('05), Jo Denevan ('06), Anjessa Evans ('07) and Sara Fleming ('09) will be joined by Barton alums Latrice Evans ('00), Trisha Vann ('04), Kimi Stevenson ('04), Susan Doggett ('05), Janet Hurley Bradley ('06), Adrienne Walker ('07), Veronica Johnson ('08) and Kim Butts ('08) in completing the alumni team.
The Barton men and women are the preseason picks to win their respective Conference Carolinas crowns.
The men's game will feature Barton seniors Bobby Buffaloe and Errol Frails, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2007 NCAA D-II National Championship. Both young men have exhausted their eligibility and finishing their degree work.
Daniel Colvin ('92) will be the oldest player in uniform for the alumni group. He is still the all-time leading 3-point shooter in school history and is in his 7th year as an assistant coach for the Barton women's team.
John Green ('04), who was N.C. High School Athlete of the Year from Beddingfield High School in Wilson before starring on the hardwood for the Bulldogs, will be back in action alongside Casey Moore and Courtney Coffer, who helped the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight in their senior season ('06).
Chris Allen ('00), Jakob Bron ('01), Marc Eugene (last year played was '01), will be joined by Melvin Baldwin, Derek Chavis and Adrian Stewart from the Class of '02. Big men George Turner and Jacoby Key and guard Steve Burroughs from the Class of '05 will complete the alumni group.
Barton men's coach Ron Lievense and women's coach Wendee Saintsing said a few others may also show up to showcase their skills, so it should be an entertaining afternoon of basketball in the "Dog House."
Senior 6-foot-3 Barton College forward L.J. Dunn (Raleigh, NC) has been named a preseason NCAA D-II Honorable Mention All-American by Sporting News and the NCAA D-II Bulletin in their annual college basketball publications.
Dunn, a 2008-09 first-team all-conference pick and runner-up for league Player of the Year, was also a three-time Conference Carolinas Player of the Week last season. He started all 32 games as the Bulldogs shared the league regular-season crown and won the conference tournament. Barton exited in the Southeast Region semifinals with a 25-7 record and was 17-3 in league action.
Dunn, who never practiced because of knee problems, averaged 14.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 27 minutes per game and had 16 double-doubles (points-rebounds). Amazingly, he shot a torrid 61.7 percent from the floor. Dunn ranked 16th nationally in field-goal percentage and 26th in rebounding. He also hit 74 percent from the foul line. He notched season-highs of 24 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and five steals and made the All-Conference Carolinas Tournament team. He led the league in rebounding and shooting percentage.
Barton was named as a "Team to Watch" by D-II Bulletin and a "Possible Breaththrough" team by Sporting News. No other Conference Carolinas schools were mentioned by either publication, although reigning Conference Player of the Year Kendrick Easley from Mount Olive was named to the Super 16 by the D-II Bulletin and a Second-Team Preseason All-American by Sporting News.
"We are certainly proud of the accolades LJ has earned individually and team-wise up to this point at Barton," 14th-year head coach Ron Lievense said. "L.J. certainly had a treamendous year last year, and I hope that he will have one for our team this year and live up to those honors bestowed upon him. We all know that it's not about where you start, but where you finish."
Anthony Atkinson, who led Barton to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and the 2007 NCAA DII National Championship, is off on his second tour with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Atkinson, who still trains in Wilson Gymnasium, aka "The Dog House," has quickly become a fan favorite. Ant's antics and skills are featured in every Globetrotters outing since he has moved into the "Magic Circle." He said this month while in Wilson that he is really enjoying the travel, getting to meet people and hitting the hardwood almost nightly with some fantastically talented players.
To see some pictures of Atkinson and his teammates and to read about their tour, click on this link below from http://SportsIllustrated.cnn.com. The photos are from a recent exhibition the Globetrotters put on for some 3,200 kids in Harlem, where their new talent for 2009 was showcased. The event served as the ceremonial tipoff for the Globetrotters' 84th season, which will include 270 performances in 215 cities worldwide.
SALISBURY, NC — Junior 5-foot-3 point guard Esty Flores and junior 6-3 forward L.J. Dunn, who directed the Barton women's and men's basketball teams to Conference Carolinas championships this season, have been honored as members of their respective North Carolinas Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State College Basketball Teams.
Previously, Flores (Virginia Beach, VA), who was the Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, was named to the Daktronics All-Southeast Region first team, while Dunn (Raleigh, NC) nabbed a spot on the NABC All-Southeast Region second team.
Flores, who was runner-up for Region Player of the Year, led the Lady Bulldogs to a 22-6 overall record and the conference regular-season title at 18-4. Barton did not get a bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional. Flores started in all 26 games she played, averaging 20.5 points, 5.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals. She shot 40 percent from the floor, 89 percent from the foul line and 37.4 from 3-point land.
She led Conference Carolinas players in scoring and steals and was second in free-throw percentage. Nationally, she ranked 13th in scoring, 14th in free-throw percentage, 14th in assist-turnover ratio (2.2/1) and 22nd in assists. She scored in double-figures in 20-of-26 games, including 20-plus 14 times. She was Barton's leading scorer in 17 of 26 games while averaging 32 minutes of court time. She had season-highs of 35 points, 11 assists, seven steals and six made 3-pointers. She swished 49 3-pointers for the season and was a three-time Conference Carolinas Player of the Week.
Dunn, a first-team all-conference pick and runner-up for league Player of the Year, was also a three-time Conference Carolinas Player of the Week. He started all 32 games as the Bulldogs shared the league regular-season crown and won the conference tournament. Barton exited in the Southeast Region semifinals with a 25-7 record and was 17-3 in league action.
Dunn, who never practiced because of knee problems, averaged 14.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 27 minutes per game and had 16 double-doubles (points-rebounds). Amazingly, he shot a torrid 61.7 percent from the floor. Dunn ranked 16th nationally in field-goal percentage and 26th in rebounding. He also hit 74 percent from the foul line. He notched season-highs of 24 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and five steals and made the All-Conference Carolinas Tournament team. He led the league in rebounding and shooting percentage.
Flores was joined on the NCCSIA All-State College Division First Team by Wingate's Anna Atkinson, Greensboro's Dione Eccles, Queens' Marissa Hudley, Johnson C. Smith's Wendy Stywalt and Mount Olive's Jasmine Whitby.
Dunn's company on the first team included Mount Olive's Kendrick Easley, Guilford's Clay Henson, Elizabeth City State's Anthony Hilliard and Guilford's Tyler Sanborn.
The Barton College men's and women's basketball teams enjoyed another successful season under the direction of veteran head coaches Ron Lievense and Wendee Saintsing, respectively, and that was reflected in the final rankings of the most successful NCAA D-II basketball programs in 2008-09.
The Barton men went 25-7, shared the Conference Carolinas regular season title and won the conference tournament. The Bulldogs then won their first-round game of the NCAA Southeast Regional before exiting in the regional semifinals against host Augusta State. The Lady Bulldogs posted a 22-6 record en route to the Conference Carolinas regular-season championship, but were eliminated in the conference tournament and did not receive an NCAA bid.
The combined men's and women's record of 47-13, for a win percentage of .783, ranked the 2008-09 Barton basketball teams eighth best among nearly 300 schools that have both men's and women's programs. The best overall win percentage of .862 came from Gannon (PA), where the men went 30-4 and the women were 26-5.
Former Barton College basketball All-American Anthony "Ant" Atkinson and his Harlem Globetrotter teammates are featured in a seven-page article in the March 30 issue of Sports Illustrated.
Atkinson, who led Barton College to the 2007 NCAA D-II National Championship exactly two years ago, has already had his status elevated to the "Magic Circle" with the Globetrotters, and he recently performed with the team in Raleigh's RBC Center during their North American Tour.
Atkinson is featured in many of the photos in SI and is interviewed as well. Copies should be available at your local newstands this week. A video interview about the Globetrotters can also be found on the official Harlem Globetrotters web site at http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/news/index.html?article_id=160.
AUGUSTA, GA — With a big sheriff patrolling the paint for Augusta State, the Barton College Bulldogs fired blanks all too often Sunday night and saw their season end with a 77-61 loss to the nationally fourth-ranked Jaguars in the NCAA D-II Men's Basketball Southeast Regional semifinals in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The ice-cold Bulldogs, seeded fifth, had no answer for 7-foot, 300-pound ASU center Garret Siler, mainly because they couldn't buy a basket. Barton hit just 22-of-67 shots for 32.8 percent, including 4-of-19 (21.1 percent) from 3-point range, and again struggled from the foul line, where it converted 13-of-23 for 56.5 percent. Since going inside was no option against Siler, without any firepower from outside, the Bulldogs fell behind early and never caught up against the 2008 NCAA D-II runner-up.
Siler, who dunked the ball the first two times he touched it, finished with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, seven rebounds, three blocks and three assists for the Jaguars, who are 28-4 and riding a 14-game win streak.
Barton, which had won seven straight, exited the tournament at 25-6. The senior trio of Errol Frails (Wilson, NC), David King (Raleigh, NC) and Bobby Buffaloe (Fuquay-Varina) completed their remarkable careers as the winningest class in the history of Barton basketball.
They were 103-26 overall (.798) and posted a 57-3 record at home. Along the way, they won three conference regular season and tournament titles and two East Regional titles, made three NCAA appearances, advanced to two Elite Eights and won the 2007 National Championship in dramatic fashion.
"These three seniors have left a tremendous legacy for you," 13th-year head coach Ron Lievense told his team in the locker room after the game. "Now, the mantlel is passed on to you juniors."
Later, in the media room, Lievense said: "Hats off to a tremendous Augusta State team. They have great size, strength and shooting. I just don't see a chink in their armor. Look at those percentages we had tonight. We didn't hit free throws, didn't shoot 3s and didn't make our layups. We weren't able to tough it out (through the cold shooting). We didn't play to our potential two nights in a row, but a lot of credit goes to the two teams we played.
"We have already thanked our seniors in private, but I want to thank them here for everything they have brought to Barton College. They are tremendous students and human beings. To win 103 games in four years says a lot about these gentlemen. As a coach, I am having a hard time saying goodbye right now."
The Jaguars, who shot 51 percent overall Sunday night, were also hot from outside, draining 7-of-16 threes for 43.8 percent. Unlike the Bulldogs, they also made their foul shots, canning 20-of-25 for 80 percent.
"I watched the Animal Planet today," ASU head coach Dip Metress said, "and it said the bigger the alligator, the more the problems. So I thought that was apropos going into tonight. The big alligator over here (looking at Siler) dominated early on and freed up everything for everybody else."
Barton, which trailed by 17 at halftime, found itself behind 51-26 early in the second half when Southeast Region Player of the Year Ben Madgen, a 6-4 guard, hit a jumper and two 3-pointers in an 8-0 run just after intermission.
However, the BulIdogs didn't quit battling. Their deficit was still 25 points at 33-58 with 13:23 to play when Barton went on its biggest run of the game, hitting six of seven shots in an 18-5 spurt to close within striking distance at 63-49 with nine minutes left. Junior forward Eddie Kershaw scored three times, junior 6-3 forward L.J. Dunn added six points and Frails swished a 3-pointer to get the Barton fans riled up. Two free throws from sophomore guard Jaren Haley finished off the run.
That's when the biggest shot was delivered by ASU. The ‘Dogs dug in defensively on the ensuing possession, and with one tick left on the shot clock, senior ASU guard Steve Smith tossed in a contested 3-pointer to move the lead back to 15 at 7:31.
Barton proceeded to misfire on 11 of its next 12 shots, but the Jaguars struggled as well. A three-point play by Haley at 3:44 made it 68-56, but ASU hit 5-of-7 foul shots and got a fifth and final dunk from Siler to seal their date with USC Aiken in the regional final. Aiken, the No. 2 seed, beat No. 6 Catawba 85-72 in Sunday's first semifinal.
In the first half, Siler proved to be an imposing presence in the paint early on, but Barton hung tough and pulled even at 4-4. The Jaguars then seized control with a 16-3 run. Fred Brathwaite hit a 3-pointer and slammed home two dunks in the run while Siler had his way inside for two more hoops. Meanwhile, Barton connected on just 1-of-9 shots in that span.
Down 20-7, Buffaloe swished a 3-pointer and a jumper around two buckets by Dunn as the Bulldogs pulled within 25-16 at the seven-minute mark. After the teams exchanged a few buckets, the Jaguars went on a 9-2 run to end the half with a commanding 43-26 lead.
At the break, just like the night before, the Bulldogs had hit just 10-of-29 shots for 34.5 percent while ASU was 15-of-25 for 60 percent. Barton was also just 1-of-9 from 3-point land, identical to their quarterfinal halftime stats. ASU dominated the backboards 21-10 before the break, but committed 10 turnovers.
Brathwaite and Siler each had 13 points at half while Dunn, who sat six minutes of the half with two fouls, paced the Bulldogs' attack with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, six rebounds and three steals.
For the game, Madgen netted 18 points, Brathwaite had 13 and Daniel Dixon drilled 10. Barton battled hard on the boards in the second half and wound up with a 39-38 edge in rebounding.
The Bulldogs were led again by Dunn, who was a first-team All-Conference Carolinas choice and second-team NABC All-Southeast Region pick. He had 16 points, 10 rebounds and five steals in his season finale, concluding the year with 17 double-doubles in 31 games. Kershaw added 11 points and eight rebounds and Aaron Suggs scored 10.
Hugs and tears abounded in the Barton locker room after the loss, especially among the seniors.
"We just didn't take advantage of our opportunities," Frails told the media, "but this team has grown a lot. We cut into their lead, and then they would hit a big shot, but we never stopped fighting. It hurts."
"It's tough (to think about it) right now," Buffaloe said, "but it was a good career. It's going to be tough to leave."
"Right now," King said, "it's tough because of what happened tonight. But when we take the time to look back, we can be thankful for what we have learned and how we have grown. I think it'll be a great team here next year. All these guys are like brothers to me. I am extremely thankful for being part of this family."
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