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National Champions defeat St. Andrews
November 20, 2007 WILSON, N.C.—Four players scored in double figures and the defense was dominating for the defending NCAA D-II National Men's Basketball Champions Tuesday night as Barton College cruised past St. Andrews Presbyterian College 78-46. After a pre-game ceremony that included the raising of the championship banner, the Bulldogs played with passion and heart, romping to a 38-14 halftime lead and increasing the margin to 40 points before both teams emptied their respective benches. Barton, still playing without three of its better players (who are injured), dogged the Knights defensively from the opening tip. SAPC was only 5-of-26 (19.2 percent) from the floor in the first half, while Barton sizzled for 60.7 percent on 17-of-28 shooting. The Bulldogs, ranked 12th nationally and the defending regular-season and conference champs, are 2-1 overall while St. Andrews fell to 0-3. Both teams were opening Conference Carolinas play. Barton got a spark off the bench from sophomore forward Charles Gamble (6 points, two blocks, two steals and two dunks) and sophomore guard Sam Pounds (7 points). Guards Aaron Suggs (12 points) and Greg Mammel (11 points, five assists) were stellar running the show while senior 6-6 center Brian Leggett (10 points, six rebounds) and junior 6-6 post David King (7 points, 6 boards) controlled the paint. Sophomore guard Colby Poe (Bennettsville, S.C.) cashed in 13 points and senior forward Joseph Gripper (Charlotte, N.C.) added 10 for the Knights, who were out-rebounded 41-28. Gripper led the visitors with five rebounds while both senior Bradley Hippolyte (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and freshman Zack Garst (Huntersville, N.C.) each bucketed seven points. SAPC finished 17-of-52 overall for 32.7 percent while Barton was 31-of-56 for 55.4 percent. The Bulldogs outscored the Knights 24-6 beyond the arc. |