MELBOURNE, Fla. – Barry University's No. 4-ranked men's basketball team suffered its biggest loss of the season Wednesday, falling 88-72 at Florida Tech.
It was Barry's first road loss of the season.
Florida Tech -- a team the Buccaneers (20-3, 11-2 Sunshine State Conference) beat by 30 on the same Clemente Center floor a year ago -- was up to the challenge in this one, not wanting to let the sting of yesteryear disappear easily. And it didn't help that Barry matched its season-low in field goal shooting at 35.7 percent.
Get this, both of those shooting woes have come against Florida Tech (14-11, 4-9) on eerily identical numbers. Barry was 25 of 70 from the field in both games against the Panthers this season.
Arie Williams kept the Bucs in it in the first half, going four of five from beyond the arc. But all of his 14 points came in the first half, and
Deric Hill was the only other Buccaneer in double figures with 13. He also had three steals to move within four of breaking his school record of 70 set last year. Williams also had three steals.
The Bucs, who were outrebounded, 41-34, went two of 13 from long range in the second half, and had numerous defensive lapses to make matters worse. Florida Tech hit 60 percent of its second half field goals to turn a seven-point halftime lead into what was a 25-point deficit with less than five minutes to play.
Barry's bench outscored the Panthers, 35-8, but the Bucs led for only 38 seconds in a game the Panthers controlled from start to finish. All five Tech starters scored in double figures, including Jordan Majors' 23 points and Corbin Jackson's 17 points and 14 rebounds. Chris Carter and Jermaine Jackson each had 14 points.
The Bucs, which entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in assists per game at over 20 per game, were credited with only nine, and none of the Bucs had more than two.
Barry forward
Yunio Barrueta, who was ailing and did not start, was held to eight points and eight rebounds.
Savad Garner had nine points and seven boards.
Jevoni Robinson had seven rebounds and four points, while earning the start.
The Buccaneers will host Eckerd 6 p.m. Saturday on Homecoming. Barry will also host its Make-A-Wish reveal event prior to Saturday's game. It is one of two remaining home games for the Bucs.
