Hawks beat Barton, gain #5 seed for league tournament

Published 9:46 am Thursday, February 23, 2023

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MURFREESBORO – Chowan placed five in double figures to lead the Hawks to a 92-85 win over rival Barton here Wednesday night in their regular season finale.

Daylan Askew glides to the basket for two of his 18 points, one of five players to score in double figures as the Hawks knocked off rival Barton College, 92-85, in their regular season finale on Wednesday. Photo contributed by Chowan University

With the win, the Chowan men (14-11 overall and 12-8 in league play) secured the #5 seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament. Chowan will host the winner of Mount Olive and Lees-McRae on Monday, Feb. 27.

Daylan Askew paced the Hawks on Wednesday with 18 points. RJ Wilson (15), Preston Le Gassick (13), Isaac Hippolyte (11), and Jay Estime (10) scored in double-figures for the Hawks.

Cheick Traore hauled in 12 rebounds in 15 minutes of action.

After a 6-0 run by Barton to open the game, Chowan countered with a 22-4 scoring burst to lead 22-10. Hippolyte and Wilson each had baskets to start the run. Christian Koonce hit three free throws before Estime nailed a jumper. Donavon Martin added a jumper and an alley-oop from Le Gassick. Skyler Davies hit a three-pointer before Le Gassick posted a three-point play for the large lead.

Veigar Alexandersson added a basket along with a three-pointer by Estime and a pair of layups by Wilson and Hippolyte kept the Hawks in front, 31-24. Askew hit a triple along with a jumper by Le Gassick pushed the lead back to double-figures, 39-29.

Askew and Davies picked up points before the end of the half to lead 43-35.

The Bulldogs rallied at the outset of the second half, closing to within 50-48. Le Gassick answered for the Hawks by a pair of three-pointers. Askew added a layup in transition along with a pair of free throws by Koonce. By the time Wilson added a two baskets along with a pair of layups by Hippolyte another pair of freebies by Koonce, Chowan had pushed its lead to 79-61.

Estime hit a three-pointer along with a pair of free throws by Le Gassick and a layup by Askew stretched the lead to 87-67 with 3:39 remaining.

Barton would start to cut into the deficit at the free throw line before Askew and Wilson posted a basket each. Barton ended the contest on a 9-0 run before falling 92-85.