MIAMI SHORES, Fla - Looking to end the home portion of their 2023-24 schedule with a win and secure a spot in the 2024 Sunshine State Conference Championships on Saturday afternoon, the Barry University men's basketball team jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and never trailed against visiting Tampa in an 87-73 triumph.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 87, Tampa 73
Records: Barry (15-11, 8-10 SSC), Tampa (8-18, 4-14 SSC)
All-Time Series: Barry trails 34-47

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 1H | Barry scored the opening 10 points of the contest, holding Tampa without a run of consecutive baskets until a brief four-point spurt made it 16-10 with 14:26 remaining in the first half. The Bucs pushed their lead up to 20 at 41-21 while holding Tampa without another run of consecutive baskets during the stretch until five-straight points for the visitors made it 41-26. The Spartans rallied to make it a four-point game at 42-38 before Barry scored the final four points of the half to create a 46-38 halftime score.
• 2H | Barry countered a 5-2 start to the second half with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 22 at 70-48 before a 7-0 Spartans' run made it 70-55 with 8:33 left to play. The Bucs kept the lead above 14 for the rest of the contest.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Barry concludes the home portion of its schedule with a 10-5 record, the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the Bucs have had a winning record at home.
• Sami Elkamel rewrote his personal-highs behind a 19-point, 11-rebounds double-double while shooting 9-10 from the field.
• Gabe Hernandez chipped in 19 points on top of five assists.
• Nick Anderson added 17 points and two steals.
• OT Delancy scored 15 points on 6-8 shooting.
• Barry converted on 33-61 shots, going 12-24 from distance and 9-13 from the free throw line.
• Tampa went 25-62 from the field, 9-24 from three-point territory and 14-21 from the free throw line.
• Barry committed 16 turnovers, resulting in 15 points for the visitors. Tampa committed 18 turnovers, leading to 12 points for Barry.
• Tampa held a 37-32 advantage in rebounds.
• Barry recorded nine steals with four blocks while Tampa tallied six steals and two blocks.

ON THE HORIZON:
Barry starts the final week of the 2023-24 regular season at Embry-Riddle on Wednesday, Feb. 28 with tip-off slated for 7:30 pm