LAKELAND, Fla. -- Barry University men's basketball is still without a Sunshine State Conference Tournament title. The Buccaneers lost to Eckerd, 96-71, Sunday in the league title game.
Barry had more free throws (25) than field goals (20). Eckerd hit 29 field goals and 29 free throws, erasing what had been a five-game losing streak to the Buccaneers.
"When you're down 30 at the half, I was digging deep in the playbook," Barry head coach Butch Estes said. "I wish we didn't have to gamble."
Now Barry will turn its attention to the NCAA Tournament. The Selection Show is set for 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Eckerd 96, Barry 71
Records: Barry (20-8), Eckerd (24-6)
All-Time Series: Barry leads, 41-23
- Eckerd outscored Barry, 21-1, over 5:19 in the first half to take a 30-8 lead. The Bucs were outscored, 26-16, over the final 10:06 of the half. The Bucs were 8 of 29 in the first half. The Tritons shot 19 of 36. The Buccaneers trailed, 56-27, at halftime.
- Barry used an 8-0 run over a 1:09 span in the second half to pull within 69-46 on a Kooper Glick three-point play and two free throws in back-to-back possessions. Elvar Fridriksson sank two free throws with 9:17 to go to pull Barry within 75-57.
- But the Buccaneers went 7:10 without a field goal, and were 1 of 11 during a late stretch that allowed the Tritons to run away with it.
- Sunday Dech scored 16 points, and grabbed six boards. Fridriksson had 17 points and five assists. Glick finished with 14 points.
- Drushaun McLaurn had 23 points and 15 rebounds, Trevon Young 19 points and nine boards, and Marco Behori 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Tritons.
NOTEWORTHY:
- The Buccaneers are 0-7 in SSC Championship games.
- Glick has scored in double figures the last three games.
- Fridriksson and Dech were named to the SSC All-Tournament Team.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"In the second half, even though we didn't play well, we did show more energy, a lot of fight and a lot of pride. I'm extremely disappointed to be at this level, in this game and to perform like we did because that's not up to our standards."
-- Barry head coach Butch Estes
ON THE HORIZON:
Barry will await the NCAA Selection Show tonight at 10:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
