Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

MURFREESBORO – The drought is over.

For the first time under Coach Brett Vincent, the Chowan men’s basketball team picked up a win against Barton, blasting the visiting Bulldogs 95-65 here Wednesday night in the Conference Carolinas opener for both teams.

It was the first time since Dec. 5, 2006 that the Hawks defeated the Bulldogs. They were 0-9 vs. Barton since that time, up until that streak ended Wednesday night.

Four Hawks were in double-figures led by Jaedon Willis with 22 points. Jaylen Dilliard picked up 18 points, while Jonathan McFall and Elijah Hill scored 16 and 15 points respectively. McFall led the team with eight rebounds.

Chowan shot 55.2% from the floor while getting to the free throw line 27 times (22-27).

McFall posted the first three points for the Hawks along with a jumper by Willis allowed Chowan to lead 5-2 early.

After a run by the Bulldogs, Hill knocked down a triple and a layup to even the score at 10-all.

Barton went on a 15-4 run over the next 5:18 to take their largest lead of the game, 25-14.

Willis knocked down a trey to end the Bulldogs’ run and spark a 19-2 Hawks run. Dilliard went 3-3 from the stripe before Hill knocked down a jumper off a Jamal Thomas assist. Dilliard and Willis the buried back-to-back triples to give the Hawks a 28-25 lead.

The run would continue with a Calvin Ahoume layup and another Willis three-pointer. Barton was able to end the run with a triple, but Hill scored a jumper and a pair from the stripe to maintain the advantage for the Hawks. Dilliard and Jamal Thomas scored a bucket to push the advantage to 41-34 with a minute to play in the half.

Willis completed the three-point play with 2.1 seconds remaining. Following a timeout by the Bulldogs, McFall swiped the inbounds pass and banked in a deep three from the logo to give the Hawks a 47-34 lead heading into the half.

The Bulldogs would cut the lead to seven, 54-47, in the early stages of the second half, but a 15-5 Chowan run extended the advantage to 69-52 with 10:02 remaining. Chowan went 6-of-8 from the floor during that offensive spurt as McFall started off the run with a layup. Ahoume posted a pair from the stripe along with a three-pointer from Trejvon McFail and a jumper by Hill. Ahoume and Thomas added a layup each before Hill capped off the run with a bucket.

Another short burst by the Hawks pushed the advantage to 75-54 with Dilliard picking up four points and Ahoume slamming home a missed jumper.

The Hawks would win the last five minutes of the game with an 18-5 run for the 95-65 victory.

For the game, Chowan held a big advantage on the boards, outrebounding their guests, 40-30. Jonathan McFall and Trejvon McFail led that effort by snaring eight and seven rebounds respectively.

The Hawks transition game was also effective, holding a 22-3 edge in fast break points. Chowan scored 15 points off turnovers, compared to 10 for Barton.

Melvin Worley and Brandon Buford came off the bench to lead Barton in scoring with 18 and 17 points respectively.

Chowan (1-0) is slated to play at North Greenville in Conference Carolinas action on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15-16. Their next home game is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23 vs. Erskine. Spectators are not allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions.