Men's Basketball | 1/29/2003 9:59:00 PM

Box Score MELBOURNE – The Barry University men's basketball team slipped past the Panthers of Florida Tech 69-62 Wednesday night at the Clemente Center.

In the first half, the Bucs struck first scoring the first four points of the game at the 17:30 mark. However, the Panthers with the help of six first-half three-pointers managed to overcome a slow start and found themselves up 23-21 with 6:12 remaining in the half. They later extended their lead to 38-31 at the :30 mark before the Bucs' Nick Perez scored a last minute field goal to send the teams into the half with Florida Tech leading 38-33.

The second half was a different story for the Bucs as they opened with a 17-4 run putting them out in front 50-42. They later extended their lead to 57-48 and managed to hold on despite a pair of last minute three-pointers by the Panthers.

The Bucs Luis Vasquez-Bello led all scorers with 22 points while Nick Perez followed with 18.

Florida Tech was led by Titas Vainauskas who scored 16 points.

The Bucs return to action Saturday afternoon as they take on the University of Tampa at the Health & Sports Center at 4:00 pm.