MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Behind a season-high 26 points and six rebounds from junior Tylan Birts, the Buccaneer men's basketball team hung-on to a 80-74 Sunshine State Conference win over Eckerd College with a raucous crowd inside the Health & Sports Center. The Buccaneers outscored the Tritons 46-20 in the paint and dished out 23 assists on 30 made field goals. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: No. 15/18 Barry 80, Eckerd 74
Records: Barry 6-1, 2-1 SSC, Eckerd 7-2, 2-1 SSC
All-Time Series: Eckerd leads 32-45

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

"Every win regardless is precious, but this one, to be able to go 2-1 [in conference play] was critical,' Buccaneers head coach Butch Estes said. Estes praised Tritons head coach Tom Ryan. "Not only is he a great head coach, but he is a tremendous person," Estes said. "However, at the end of the day, if the players make the plays, you look good. We have to give credit to the players today on both sides."

Birts was very vocal against the Tritons, willing his team to close things out over the 2017-18 SSC Tournament Champions. "Coach Butch told me even though I am not a captain, I still have to be vocal because guys will listen to me," Birts said. "People don't realize that our team has a lot of great players and [every game] is a chance for someone else to step up and today was Marcelo [Perez's] chance."

SUMMARY:

• The Tritons led by as many as 12 in the first half over Barry before the Buccaneers closed the half on a 11-2 run and cut the Eckerd lead to three. 
• Birts went into the half with 12 points and five rebounds on 5/6 shooting. 
• Freshman Marcelo Perez stepped up and played 10 crucial minutes in the second half for Barry chipping in with eight points on 3/3 shooting and a stellar rejection on the last Eckerd possession. 
• Marko Tomic and Birts each picked up their fourth foul of the game midway through the second half forcing Estes to sub them out of the game. Both players returned to the game at the 4:21 mark and helped the Bucs go on a 15-6 run to close things out.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Birts' 26 points were the most by any Buccaneer player this season.
• Daniel Mortensen recorded his first double-double this season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Mortensen also had a season-high six assists and five blocks.

ON THE HORIZON:

The Bucs will take on Drury University at the Fort Lauderdale Civic Center a week from tomorrow on December 16th. The Panthers are 6-4 and tip-off is set for 1:30 pm.