MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University men’s basketball team let a 16-point lead get away in an 84-81 loss to Saint Leo Saturday.
The Buccaneers (10-2, 1-2 Sunshine State Conference) used a 12-2 run to open the second half. With 14:27 to play, Barry led 57-41 following a layup by Yunio Barrueta. But Saint Leo (13-3, 2-2) used a 20-4 run to tie the game at 61-61 with five minutes left.
The Bucs fell behind five on Spenser Mitchell’s bucket with 3:37 to play. Magne Fivelstad sank two free throws with 1:17 left to put Barry back up one. Saint Leo responded with seven free throws to push the lead back to five. Arie Williams canned a triple as Barry cut it to one with 2.8 seconds left, but Jerrel Harris sank two free throws to ice it.
Barry committed 13 of its 21 turnovers in the second half. The Bucs were victimized by 15 Saint Leo steals, including four by Devin Crisosto.
Fivelstad finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, his third double-double of the season. Barrueta had 16 points, nine boards and four blocks.
Harris scored a career-high 41 points, sinking 14 of 14 from the free throw line. Mitchell added 13 points for the Lions, who shot 43.5 percent from the floor. Barry was 27 of 58 for 46.6 percent.
The Bucs sank all nine of their second half free throws. Deric Hill, who finished with 16 points, seven assists and three steals, was 8-for-8 from the line. Fivelstad was 7-for-7 from the stripe.
Barry, which plays at Nova Southeastern Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., outrebounded Saint Leo, 38-34. It was the first time all season Barry has lost a game when it outrebounded its opponent. It was also the first time the Bucs lost a game in which they were leading at the half. Barry led 40-36 at the break.
Adrian Gonzalez scored 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting, and had five rebounds for the Bucs.