MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Three weeks ago, head coach Butch Estes said if his team was going to win a title, it had to do it on the road.

That moment has arrived.

Indeed, Barry University's men's basketball team has a chance to do something special. But to do it, they must do so on the road. A win over their rival Lynn Wednesday night will secure a third straight championship season for the Buccaneers.

Enough said.

Barry (17-6, 13-5 Sunshine State Conference) meets Lynn (14-11, 11-8) at 7:30 p.m. in Boca Raton. The Bucs have a one-game lead in the league on Eckerd and two-game lead on Florida Southern with two games remaining. To deliver on the big stage, they have to do it against a team they know all too well.

"This is just another big rivalry game," Barry assistant coach Justin Furr said. "The games have always been highly contested and close."

The Buccaneers, who picked up a couple points in Tuesday's D2SIDA national poll, own a 28-26 record in the series. They have won the last five times the two teams met at the de Hoernle Center. Barry won the first meeting this year in Miami Shores, 72-68, in a game the Bucs led 47-29 at halftime.

Barry has won its last two road games. But now it boils down to other intangibles. We're talking tenacity on the boards.

"Last time we played, they did a great job on the glass against us," Furr said. "For us to win on the road, we have to do a much better job rebounding the ball."

Both teams are grabbing 38 boards per game. The Buccaneers lost the rebounding battle by a six in the first meeting, but possessions in a close game are vital. That first meeting became close as the Fighting Knights turned what was a comfortable Bucs lead into a scary finish.

Lately, the Bucs have been executing with a purpose, and putting their high-tempo game into overdrive. If that continues, Barry will be tough to beat -- sentiments still lingering from its recent success on the road and the stirring performance the Bucs put together on Saturday. 

"Championship teams always want to play their best basketball in February and March," Furr said. "The team has really taken ownership to play hard every night to give us the best chance to win."

May the Battle in Boca begin ...

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