Box Score MURFREESBORO - Despite Chowan getting 20 plus points from two of their players, the Hawks fell in their season opener 90-80 to Barton College tonight. Chowan's Mark Brown posted 23 points while Jerry Fairly came off the bench to score 22 points in the loss. Barton took advantage of Hawks miscues tonight, scoring 18 points off of Chowan turnovers. Barton's Gerald Boston put up a game-high 26 points and hit 5-7 from beyond the three point arch. Fairley scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and kept the Hawks in the game late. But late fouls by Chowan and several key three pointers by Barton helped give the Bulldogs the ten point win over the Hawks tonight. 

Mark Brown had a solid first half for the Hawks after putting up 17 points in the first 20 minutes of play. Brown helped to spark several first half runs, including a run that led to an eight point lead at the 10:50 mark. But Barton stormed back, chipping away at the Chowan lead to take a 41-39 lead into the halftime break. 

Barton's LJ Dunn opened the second half with a layup in the paint to give the Bulldogs a four point lead, a lead that they wouldn't give up the remainder of the half. Fairley scored eight straight points over three minutes late in the second half to keep Chowan close. But the Hawks were forced to foul in the final minutes of the game. Barton iced the game  after hitting 6-8 shots from the foul line over the last two minutes to pick up their first season win. 

Chowan (0-1) shot 50% from the floor (33-66) but struggled from the foul line, hitting just 50% (12-24) from the charity stripe. Barton hit nine three pointers to Chowan's two and won the battle under the glass with 48 rebounds to Chowan's 41. 

The Hawks will travel to the 45th Pickle Classic hosted by Mount Olive College on Friday and Saturday. They are scheduled to play Mars Hill College Friday and North Georgia State College and University on Saturday. Barton (1-0) will play in the Elizabeth City State University Classic this weekend. 

Brown posted 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the game. He also dished out five assists and had two blocks. Fairley was 10-12 from the floor with a pair of free throws for 22 points. Charles Rhodes chipped in 10 points and had six rebounds on the night.