FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Despite a start that saw Barry lead 32-30 with eight minutes left in the first half, the Buccaneer men's hoops team came up short to the third-ranked Nova-Southeastern Sharks, suffering a 88-77 defeat in the Sunshine State Basketball Conference Championship Semifinal.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 77, Nova-Southeastern 88
Records: Barry 18-11, Nova Southeastern 26-2
All-Time Series: Barry leads 41-22
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"Nova has a great basketball team who right now is playing at an extremely high level. I thought the difference in the game came down to two particular areas. First, offensive rebounding, where they got the best of us. Second, our failure to take care of the ball. The combination of these two things results in a good win for Nova." -- Head coach Butch Estes.
SUMMARY:
- Isaiah Hobbs led the way for the Buccaneers early, recording 15 of Barry's first 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field including two buckets from downtown. The Bucs secured what would eventually be their last lead of the game when Milon Sheffield sank a triple with 8:12 left in the first half. NSU came out of the following media timeout with a whole new strategy, implementing a full court press that disrupted the Bucs offense and allowed the Sharks to go on a 17-0 run. | Nova Southeastern 47, Barry 37.
- Barry ripped off a 10-0 run late in second half to bring the game within 10 but there wasn't enough time for the Bucs to finish the comeback. | Nova Southeastern 88, Barry 77
NOTEWORTHY:
- When Barry got a shot off they were extremely efficient, finishing the game with a 52% field goal percentage including a 42% clip from deep. They held the edge over the Sharks in both categories who finished with a 43% field-goal percentage and a 33% mark on three-point baskets.
- The Achilles heel for the Buccaneers was their 20 turnovers that resulted in 23 points for Nova.
ON THE HORIZON:
The Bucs will learn their postseason fate on Sunday night at 10:00 pm when the NCAA selection committee wil decide the tournament bracket.
