Box Score

WILSON, N.C. - The Pfeiffer men's basketball team (6-7, 3-5) improved its record to 4-1 over their last five games with an impressive 82-68 road victory at Barton (9-7, 5-3) on Tuesday evening. Mike Smith tied a season high with 23 points and went 10-for-11 from the free throw line, while teammate Keith Jumper added 14 points, his highest total of the year.

Pfeiffer entered play ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage allowed, and the stifling defense continued as the Bulldogs managed just 33.3 percent shooting for the contest. Pfeiffer also held a commanding 46-36 advantage on the boards and kept Barton to just 18.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs are the top scoring team in the league, averaging over 87 points per game heading into tonight, but were unable to figure out the formidable Falcon defense.

The Falcons converted on 86.7 percent of their free throws on the evening, including a 19-for-21 performance in the second half.

Smith, Jumper and center Silvere Aluko were efficient on the offensive end as the trio combined to go 17-for-26 from the field. Aluko was a perfect 4-for-4 and added four rebounds and three blocked shots on the evening. Guards Josh Calhoun (15 points) and AJ Clark (13 points) also finished in double figures for the Falcons who sit just one game below .500 for the season.

The Bulldogs entered play in third place in the Conference Carolinas standings but were trailing the Falcons for nearly the entire contest. After a pair of Barton free throws with 16:45 to play in the first half gave the hosts a 6-5 lead, Jumper's layup would give Pfeiffer the lead with just over 16 minutes to play. From that point on, Pfeiffer never trailed in the contest. Smith converted two free throws to extend the Falcons lead to 11 with 37 seconds to play but Jake Veasley's bucket with two seconds remaining sent Pfeiffer into the half with a 45-36 advantage.

Pfeiffer, who had struggled offensive as of late, shot 54.5 percent from the field in the first half and topped their scoring total from their previous game against Mount Olive (42) in the opening 20 minutes.

Barton was determined to close the gap to start the second half and cut the lead to 51-46 at the 15:30 mark. The Falcons would respond with an 8-2 spurt over the next two minutes to reclaim a 13 point advantage. The closest Barton would get down the stretch was seven with 5:32 to play but Pfeiffer scored eight unanswered to clinch the win. 

Barton missed 42 shots on the evening but was able to stay within reach because they went to the free throw line 32 times. Smith accounted for 14 of his 23 points in the second half. Barton had three scorers in double figures, paced by 13 from Danny Shand.

Pfeiffer looks to continue its strong play when they travel to Banner Elk, N.C. to take on Lees-McRae on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Falcons swept the Bobcats a season ago and are 25-3 against Lees-McRae since the 2000 season. Pfeiffer beat Lees-McRae 20 straight times spanning from Feb. 2002-Feb. 2011.