WEB CAST.
Garner had a huge first half spurt and survived a big third quarter comeback by Knightdale to keep pace at the top of the league standings with an 82-63 road win on Friday night.
For the second game in-a-row, Garner (17-3, 11-1) got out to a big first quarter leading, racing out to a 23-6 lead after the opening eight minutes and unlike the game on Wednesday night, the Trojans were able to build on that lead in the second stanza as Foster Dubar scored six of his 11 points in the second quarter. Garner also got big first half play from Sammy Saunders who poured in 12 to help give the men of Troy a 44-24 lead at the break.
Knightdale (12-9, 6-6) came storming back in the third quarter and seemingly every shot attempted found the bottom of the net as the Knights erased a 20-point deficit and turned the game into a five point game heading into the final eight minutes of play. Ronshad Allen-Shabazz lead the Knights with 12 of his 15 points in the third quarter.
The Knights continued to chip away at the Trojan lead pulling as close as two (58-56) early in the fourth only to see the Trojans break the game wide open.
Julius Barnes and Demarcus Sanford put the team on their backs and helped will the men of Troy to victory. Barnes, who finished with a new career high of 20 points nailed a pivotal three pointer from the left wing to put the Trojans up by double digits late in the game and really seal the contest.
Meanwhile, Sanford, poured in 23 points (five off his career high) including nine in the final eight minutes as the Trojans took home the 82-63 win over the Knights.
For Garner, it was their eighth straight victory over Knightdale and now the Trojans lead the all-time series 18-5.
The men of Troy return to action on Tuesday night at 8:00 when they travel to Southeast Raleigh to battle the Bulldogs.
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