MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- It was a tale of two halves for the fourth-seeded Barry Men's Basketball team as they surged back to defeat fifth-seeded Tampa in the Sunshine State Conference Quarterfinals. First year Head Coach, Justin Furr, picks up his first postseason victory in his debut. It it the first time the Buccaneers have won a home playoff game since the 2021-22 season. It is the first playoff meeting between the two teams since 2008-09 as Barry avenges their home loss that year.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 93, Tampa 85
Records: Barry (17-12, 11-9 SSC), Tampa (16-12, 10-10 SSC)
All-Time Series: Tampa leads 50-36

SUMMARY:

• 1H - The Buccaneers picked up a quick turnover and Jose Benitez took advantage for the first basket of the game. It sparked a 9-0 run Barry in the first two and half minutes. Tampa had their own run 12-0 run at the five-minute mark to flip the scoreboard. The Spartans took an eight point lead into the break. Barry shot 40-percent from the field compared to UT's 54.5-percent. The Spartans out-scored the Bucs 17-5 in points of turnovers and 30-16 in paint points. | Tampa 51, Barry 43
  2H – Barry came out with a hot start to the second half with a 7-1 run. Tampa once again had a run of their own that gave them a 10-point lead. Down but never out, the Buccaneers rallied together a 15-1 run to retake the lead. After a tie game at 71-71, Barry kicked it into another gear and never looked back after scoring nine straight. The Buccaneers had a much better offensive half shooting 50-percent from the field, while the defense held the Spartans to just nine field goals made. Barry out-scored Tampa by 19 points in the half, now holding the advantage in the paint 22-8. | Barry 96, Tampa 85

NOTEWORTHY:

• Marko Šarenac had a career night with a new high in points (29) and picking up his 17th double-double of the season with 12 rebounds.
• The 17 double-doubles ties James Montgomery who last had just as much in the 2023-24 season.
• Deon Perry had a career-high eight rebounds to go along with his 11-points.
• Tarrance Warren and Malik STanley led the bench with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
• Barry collected their seventh 20-plus assists game as a team this season. 
• It would come down to free throws on the stat sheet as Barry had 11 more attempts and made 13 more.
• The Barry bench had 37 points to UT's 19.
• It is the fourth comeback victory after being down at the half for the Bucs this season.
• Barry has won six of their last eight games.

ON THE HORIZON:
Barry will cross the county line to take on first-seeded Nova Southeastern in the SSC Semifinals on Thursday, March 5 with tip set at 7:30 p.m.