MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University men's basketball finally figured out Palm Beach Atlantic.

The 11th-ranked Buccaneers had dropped the past two games to the Sailfish, including the Sunshine State Conference semifinals last year, but Barry turned it up a notch in the second half to overcome a tight first half. 

The Bucs trailed by as many as three after leading by as much as nine in the first half. 
 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 85, Palm Beach Atlantic 74
Records: Barry (5-1, 2-0 SSC), Palm Beach Atlantic (4-5, 1-2 SSC)
All-Time Series: Barry leads 28-7

SUMMARY:

• Daniel Mortensen got untracked in the first half, going 4 of 5 from long range, to score 14 points as Barry swapped leads with PBA three times. The Bucs outscored the Sailfish, 20-12, in the paint in the first half. PBA went 10 of 16 from the three-point line.
• The Bucs opened up a 67-57 lead when Elvar Fridriksson scored at the 13:26 mark. Fridriksson hit a three inside the 12:00 mark to extend the lead to 11. 
• Theo Turner threw down a monster dunk 1:51 into the second half to tie the game for a fifth time.
• The Sailfish cooled off to start the second half, going 1 for 7 from beyond the arc. But Bakari Wharthen kept the Fish within striking distance after taking his second steal coast-to-coast for a breakaway slam with 10:33 to go, and Lucas Morales hit a jumper in the paint to cut Barry's lead to seven.
• PBA cut it to five, but Fridriksson scored on back-to-back possessions, and Mortensen canned two big threes to put the Bucs ahead by 15 with less than two minutes remaining.
• Sunday Dech scored 13 points, had six rebounds and six assists. Johannes Dolven had 10 points and eight boards.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Barry has outscored its opponent in the paint in each of its victories this year. The only time the Bucs were outscored in the paint, 22-20, they lost to Bellarmine.
• Mortensen's 22 points was a season high. He also had 11 boards, becoming the second Buccaneer to record a double-double this season.
• The Buccaneers had 20 or more assists for the fifth time this season. Barry finished with 23 helpers.
• Fridriksson scored 20 points to move within 11 of a 1,000 in his three-year Bucs career. 
• Barry held PBA to 2 of 16 from long range in the second half. 

ON THE HORIZON:

Barry will host Rollins at 4 p.m. Saturday. Anyone attending Barry's Christmas Special on campus will receive a free ticket to the game.