WILSON, N.C. -  Shaw University's men's basketball team built an early 13-point lead, but could not hit free throws at critical times, falling at Barton 70-59.  The contest was the closing game at the Barton College 45-Second Classic in Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus Saturday evening.

The loss drops Shaw to 1-1, while Barton improves to 1-1.

The Bears hit only 17 of their 31 free throw attempts for 54.8 percent on the game.  Barton, in contrast, hit just over 75 percent of their shots from the charity stripe.  The Bears had the hotter hand from the floor, hitting 44.2 percent versus the Bulldogs' 37.5 percent, but Barton launched 21 more shots than the Bears did.

The extra shots came off Bear turnovers (18) and Barton offensive rebounds (also 18) to give the Bulldogs that shot advantage.   Not surprisingly given the number of offensive rebounds, the Bulldogs outscored the Bears in the paint 44-28.

The Bears built double-digit leads twice in the first half, beginning with a 12-2 lead off a Curtis Hines three pointer.  The Bulldogs immediately fought back, trimming the lead to 15-13 before Shaw took off again.

With 7:09 left in the first half, Ali Baba Odd hit one of two free throws to give the Bears a 25-15 lead.  They stretched the lead to 32-19 with 2:25 left on a pair of Hines free throws.

Barton closed out the half by scoring 11 straight, going to the locker room only down two at 32-30.

Shaw built the lead back to five early in the second half on a layup from Aquil Younger with 17:15 left in the game, giving Shaw a 39-34 lead.  Barton scored the next six points, taking a one-point lead.

The Bulldogs did not give up the lead the rest of the way.  After Shaw tied the game at 42-all, Barton scored seven straight.  Shaw would not get closer than five after that.  Barton built the lead as large as 14 points, finishing with the 11-point, 70-59 win.

Hines was the leading scorer for the Bears with 18 points.  Andre Paulk added 14, Younger 11 and Koron Reed 10.  Reed paced the Bears with nine rebounds.

Barton also had four players in double figures, with Favian Beard leading the way with 13.  Chris Flemmings and Evan Shelton had 12 apiece while Daniel McClendon had 11.  Faircloth led the Bulldogs with five assists while Ryan Canoy had 12 rebounds to top both teams.

Shaw returns to action next Saturday when they host Charleston (WV) in a 4:00 tip at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the Shaw campus.