MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Justin Furr spent last year on the other side. This year, there's nothing more than he'd like to win from this side.
"I'd love to get a win on Wednesday night," said Furr, Barry University men's basketball's assistant coach who spent a year at Lynn, "but again every game's the same, just trying to win the next game in this league."
The Buccaneers (11-3, 2-3 Sunshine State Conference) host Lynn (7-8, 1-4) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Health & Sports Center. The game will air on the Buccaneers Broadcasting Network with Danny Rabinowitz handling the call. The men's game follows the women's game at 5:30 p.m.
Barry had lost three of four before pulling out a 68-65 victory at Eckerd Saturday. Lynn is coming off a five-point loss to Tampa. The Bucs, who won their first nine games, would like to start another streak.
"I do think putting wins together helps you build confidence," Furr said. "In this league, there are no nights off, so for us to put a string of two or three or four together would speak a lot of volumes about how tough we really are and about how our chemistry is really coming together."
Lynn, like Barry, is under the direction of a new coach. Jeff Price is employing different Xs and Os on the Fighting Knights' side of the court this year.
"They're really trying to play a lot faster this year," Furr said. "They try to get up and down. They try to push the ball in transition.
"They're a really, really good team. I don't think their record affects how good they really are. It doesn't really show how talented their team is. We definitely have a big test on our hands coming up."
The Buccaneers, who were outrebounded for only the second time all season in the win at Eckerd, must combat the size and athleticism of Fighting Knights newcomers 6-foot-6 Aaron Harrison and 6-10 Cory Thomas. Harrison is averaging a double-double. Fred Landers, a Division I transfer from North Florida, is averaging 12.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Lynn is averaging 41.6 rebounds per game. The Bucs are pulling down just under 41, while giving up 31.7. Barry junior forward Savad Garner leads the SSC in offensive rebounds (3.7) per game. He, sophomore forward Yunio Barrueta and senior forward Magne Fivelstad each have over 100 rebounds this season.
"One of the things we really pride ourselves in is rebounding the ball," Furr said. "That's going to be another key for us on Wednesday night to really get on the offensive glass, get on the defensive glass, and make sure they don't hurt us in those areas. But as far as their size, their wings are really big. Their posts are big and strong guys. We know we've got a challenge on our hands, especially trying to keep them off the offensive glass."
GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Barry beat Eckerd on the road Saturday, 68-65 ... Jr. F Savad Garner had 12 points and 7 rebounds.
SERIES RECORD: Barry is 18-23 all time against Lynn ... The Bucs split the series last year, winning on the road, 65-61, on Feb. 13, 2013.
EYES ON OPPONENTS: The Fighting Knights are coming off a 51-46 loss to Tampa Saturday ... Aaron Harrison is averaging 18.1 ppg and 10.1 reb ... Fred Landers is averaging 12.5 ppg and 6.3 reb ... Kaleb Clyburn is scoring 10.4, and leads Lynn in assists (83).
ARIE ON TARGET: Fr. G Arie Williams has had two of his top three games in the past two contests ... He scored 9 points at Nova Southeastern, and had eight at Eckerd ... He made five triples in those two games.
SIXTH SENSE: Jr. G Deric Hill ranks sixth in the nation in assists per game (7.1) ... He is 11th in total assists, one shy of 100 this year.
LOW POINT: Barry is coming off its two lowest scoring games of the season, winning for the first time while scoring in the 60s at Eckerd ... The Bucs average 82.6 points per game.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Soph. F Yunio Barrueta recorded his fifth double-double of the season last week ... He’s scored in double figures in his last eight games ... Sr. F Magne Fivelstad has three double-doubles this year.
BOARDING SCHOOL: Barry ranks tied for 10th in the country in rebounding margin (9.1) ... The Bucs lead the SSC in that category by outrebounding opponents by that margin ... Barry also leads the league in offensive rebounds per game (15.4).
ABOVE 80: Magne Fivelstad and Fr. F Adrian Gonzalez are both shooting over 80 percent from the free throw line ... Gonzalez leads the Bucs at 82.9 percent ... Fivelstad is shooting 80.2 percent.
ON POINT FROM THREE POINT: Jr. G Juan Ferrales leads the SSC in 3-point field goals made per game (3.0) ... He’s shooting 43.3 percent beyond the arc.
SHOOTING UNDER 50: Barry has shot under 50 percent in its last six games ... The Bucs have shot over 50 percent three times this year.
ASSIST-ANCE: Barry ranks 15th in the country in assists per game as a team at 17.8 ... The school record for assists per game is 18.7 by the 1992-93 team.
CLOSE CALLS: In its last three games, the Bucs have been involved in games all decided by three points or less ... Barry won one of those three games.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Savad Garner leads the SSC in offensive rebounds (3.7).
100 CLUB: Yunio Barrueta (119), Magne Fivelstad (111) and Savad Garner (107) all have over 100 rebounds this season.
THIEF ARTIST: Deric Hill ranks 17th in the country in steals per game (2.5) ... He leads the SSC in steals per game ... He’s had three steals or more in eight games this season.
FIVELSTAD FREE THROW FORM: Magne Fivelstad ranks sixth all-time in career free throw shooting at 78.8 percent.
SECOND TO ONE: Barry’s 82.6 scoring average ranks second all-time in school history ... The Bucs’ 1986-87 squad averaged 90.3.
FREE FOR ALL: Every player who’s suited up this year has made a free throw for the Buccaneers ... Barry is shooting .718.
BOLANOS UPDATE: Derrick Bolanos (foot) is scheduled to begin practicing this week ... His status is uncertain, but is not expected to play Wednesday.
GAMBERONI DAY TO DAY: Matt Gamberoni (knee) sat out the last three games ... He will be a game day decision.
HONORING ENROLLMENT: Barry will honor the Division of Enrollment Services at the school for the Lynn game.
DOUBLE DOSE: Barry has had multiple players score in double figures in every game this year ... There have been two games when five players reached double figures.
SSC TICKETS: Call 305-899-4823 to order Sunshine State Conference Tournament tickets Mar. 5-9 in Kissimmee, Fla.
BUCS RECORD WHEN ...
Overtime Games: 0-0
Home Games: 7-1
Road Games: 2-2
Neutral Games: 0-0
Night Games: 10-2
Day Games: 1-1
Leading at Halftime: 8-2
Trailing at Halftime: 3-1
Tied at Halftime 0-0
After a Loss: 1-1
Scoring 80+ points: 8-1
Scoring 70-79 points: 2-2
Scoring 60-69 points: 1-0
Scoring 50-59 points: 0-0
Games Decided by 2 points or Less: 2-1
Games Decided by 5 points or Less: 4-2
Games Decided by 10 points or Less: 6-2
Games Decided by 11-20 Points: 3-1
Games Decided by over 20 Points: 2-0
Outrebounding Opponents: 10-2
Opponents Outrebound Bucs: 1-1
Matching Opponents in Rebounds 0-0
Committing 10 or Fewer Turnovers 2-1
Committing 11 or More Turnovers: 9-2
5 Starters Reach Double Figures: 1-0
4 Starters Reach Double Figures: 3-0
3 Starters Reach Double Figures: 7-1
2 Starters Reach Double Figures: 9-3
1 Starter Reaches Double Figures: 9-3
Shooting 50% or Better FG: 3-0
Shooting 40-49% FG: 7-3
Shooting Under 40% FG: 1-0
Opponents Shoot 50% or Better FG: 3-2
Opponents Shoot 40-49%: 6-1
Opponents Shoot Under 40%: 2-0
Shooting 80% or Better FT: 5-1
Shooting 70-79% FT: 1-1
Shooting 60-69% FT: 5-1
Shooting Under 60% FT: 0-0
Opponents Shoot 80% or Better FT: 2-0
Opponents Shoot 70-79% FT: 3-1
Opponents Shoot 60-69% FT: 4-2
Opponents Shoot Under 60% FT: 2-0