LAKELAND, Fla. – In a top-25 matchup of unbeaten teams No. 25 Barry men’s basketball team fell, 95-79, Saturday night at No. 4 Florida Southern College.
Adrian Gonzalez carried the offensive load and finished one point shy of his career-high with a 29 point, seven rebound performance.
On a night when the ball just didn’t bounce their way the Buccaneers battled all night, but suffered their first loss of the season.
Just three minutes into the game starting point guard Deric Hill picked up two quick fouls as the Buccaneers trailed 7-2 in what was already shaping out to be a physical up-tempo game.
Playing their first conference road game of the season, the Bucs responded with a 16 to 3 run highlighted by back-to-back 3’s from Yunio Barrueta and capped by a Gonzalez layup to take an eight point lead
Throughout the first half both teams exchanged leads in a tight contest, but the Bucs, whom led by as many as eight, trailed by just five heading into the half.
Fouls plagued the Bucs in the opening period, collecting 16 as a team, but a balanced offensive attack and 22 points in the paint helped keep the Moccasins in-check.
Florida Southern ran out to a 12-4 run to start the second half and stretched the lead to as many as 17. Although the Bucs chipped away at the lead, they were never able to get within less than ten the rest of the way.
Barrueta finished with 13 points and six rebounds and Magne Fivelstad added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Kevin Capers led the Mocs with 24 points and four players finished in double-figures for Florida Southern.
The Buccaneers return to action at home on Jan. 8 when they step out of conference play to battle Palm Beach Atlantic before hosting SSC foe Saint Leo on Jan. 11.
Live-stat and video broadcast will be available through the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.