Box Score WILSON, N.C. – In another contest atop the early season Conference Carolinas standings, the King University men's basketball dropped a tight affair at Barton College. The Tornado got off to a hot start, and withstood a late first half rally from the Bulldogs. However, King couldn't hold off a late rally in the second half from Barton as the Bulldogs came away with the 92-90 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Barton 92, King 90
LOCATION: Wilson Gymnasium; Wilson, N.C.
RECORDS: King 9-7, 4-2 Conference Carolinas; Barton 9-6, 5-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- King jumped out to an 8-0 lead behind a pair of triples from Jordan Floyd and Mike Salomon. Floyd then added a layup in what was a career night for the junior.
- King extended their lead to 22-8 following a Je'Don Young triple, marking the largest lead of the first half for the Tornado.
- However, the Bulldogs began to chip away, using a 13-4 run to cut their deficit to five points.
- Barton later went on an 11-2 run, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 36-35.
- Timothy Taylor had the answer for King, each time the Bulldogs grabbed the lead, Taylor responded with a layup, vaulting the Tornado back ahead.
- Taylor then capped the first half scoring with a triple, giving King a 42-40 lead at the break.
- Salomon opened the second half with a pair of triples before Floyd heated up.
- Floyd scored 24 of his career-high 35 in the final stanza, starting with back-to-back trifectas that extended the Tornado advantage to 58-49 five minutes into the half.
- He later gave King their largest lead of the game at 77-61 when he drilled one of his seven triples, with 10 minutes remaining.
- However, Barton began to chip away at the deficit again, starting with an 8-0 that cut the King lead to 79-73 with six minutes remaining.
- Ten straight points from Barton evened the score at 83, but Floyd answered with a bucket.
- Matt Woods connected from long range, giving the lead back to Barton as the teams began to trade the lead.
- Another triple from the Bulldogs, this time Isaiah Reddish put the Bulldogs up 91-89 with one minute remaining.
- King looked to answer, but a pair of attempts from Floyd were off the mark.
- A free throw with three seconds left gave Barton a three point advantage and the Bulldogs fouled, not letting King get a game-tying shot off.
- Young made the first, and missed the second on purpose, but the Bulldogs grabbed the rebound to take the 92-90 victory.
- Floyd led King with 35 points while Taylor followed with 18 points and 10 assists for the double-double.
- Young chipped in with 10 points.
- Mack Owens grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with six points, and Shon'Dre Dukes snared 10 rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Bobby Stenborg led four Bulldogs in double figures with 28 points and added seven rebounds.
- Michael Boykin followed with 19 points and four assists.
- Reddish and Woods chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Floyd tallied a career-high 35 points, topping his previous high of 34 set earlier this season against Tusculum College.
- It also marks his fourth game this season with at least 30 points and sixth with at least 20 points.
- Floyd knocked down seven triples in a game for the second time this season. That mark is the fourth most made in a game in school history.
- Taylor set a career-high with 18 points, topping his previous high of 15.
- He also posted his first career double-double as he handed out 10 assists.
UP NEXT
- King returns home to the friendly confines of the Student Center Complex to host rival Lees-McRae College on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
- Barton hosts the University of Mount Olive on Wednesday night.
