MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- An epic, down-to-the-wire Barry versus Eckerd traditional battle saw the Buccaneers edge out the Tritons in overtime by the score of 96-93 inside the Health & Sports Center. Down 13 with 5:58 remaining in the game, the Bucs chipped away at the Eckerd lead, capped-off by a cold-blooded three-pointer by Tylan Birts to send the crowd into a frenzy and the game into overtime at 86 all.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 96, Eckerd 93 (OT)
Records: Barry (15-5, 9-4 SSC), EC (7-14, 3-10 SSC)
All-Time Series: Barry trails 35-46
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING:
SUMMARY:
- The Buccaneers used a 17-6 run capped by a Jake Kakar three-pointer to go up 33-21 for their largest lead of the game with 7:35 left in the first period. Kakar led all scorers with 11 in the first half. Both offenses looked good, with the Tritons shooting 45 percent and the Bucs shooting 53 percent. Both teams shot over 40 percent from three-point land.
- With 8:15 remaining in the first half, Tylan Birts jumped over an Eckerd player and threw down an alley-oop pass from Jake Kakar that deserves a spot on ESPNs Top-10.
- Barry trailed by 13 with 5:58 left in the game after Eckerd hit a wide-open three in what appeared to be the dagger for the Bucs. But the comeback kids keep growing as the legend of Tylan Birts does too. With :02 remaining, the senior from Florida City drained his first three of the night to tie the game at 86 and send it into overtime.
- With the Bucs up 94-92, Eckerd drew a foul, but missed the front end. Eckerd's Malcolm Whitlow made the second and the Tritons sent David Moya to the free throw line down one.
- Moya delivered for the Bucs with clutch free throw after clutch free throw at the end of regulation and in overtime. The senior guard went 4-for-4 from the stripe in the overtime period to seal the comeback for Barry. He was 9-for-11 for the game.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Eckerd shot a higher percentage from the field and out-rebounded the Bucs in the second half.
- The Buccaneer bench outscored Eckerd's 35-4.
- Moya was impressive for the Bucs with 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists and shot 3-for-6 from three-point land.
ON THE HORIZON:
The Bucs hit the road to play Florida Tech in Melbourne, FL on Wednesday, February 5th. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm inside the Clemente Center. Tune in to @GoBarryBucs on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more information.
