MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University’s coaching staff had a message for its players early Saturday.
“Assistant coach Justin Furr texted everyone this morning and said, ‘Hey guys, you better be ready,’” Buccaneers coach Butch Estes said. “For 40 minutes, they were really focused.”
That the No. 5-ranked Bucs were in beating Nova Southeastern, 91-76, Saturday at the Health & Sports Center. The win improved Barry’s record to 13-1 overall, 5-0 in the Sunshine State Conference.
Barry never trailed, and shot 59.7 percent from the floor, knocking down 10 triples for the 10th time this season. Juan Ferrales had 22 points and six rebounds, and Adrian Gonzalez scored 19 points on nine of 10 shooting for the Bucs.
“Finally, I broke out of that slump I was going through,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez, who made his first six field goals, gave Barry an eight-point lead at the 8:27 mark of the first half. Yunio Barrueta’s basket with 4:38 to play in the half pushed the Buccaneers ahead by 10. Nova (6-8, 2-4) went on a 7-0 run to cut it to three with 2:15 remaining on the first half clock. But Savad Garner scored in transition, and Ferrales canned one of his four triples with four seconds remaining in the half as Barry nudged its lead back to eight entering the break.
Gonzalez scored 6:03 into the second half to extend the Buccaneers lead to 14, but the Sharks trimmed it to four following two Chris Page free throws at the 9:05 mark. Barry then went on a 10-2 run over the next 4:01 to bump the lead back to 14 on Barrueta’s dunk, and that all but sealed the deal.
Barrueta had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double this season. Deric Hill had a double-double of his own with 10 points and a school record-tying 16 assists. Hill also had five boards and four steals, and did not commit a turnover in 28 minutes.
“Preparing for the game, Coach told us what was going to be open,” Hill said, following his milestone game. “When I passed the ball, I just told ’em, ‘Just turn around and shoot it.’”
Hill also recorded his second career dunk when he threw down a breakaway inside the last minute.
Barry outrebounded the Sharks, 39-19. It was the 13th opponent the Bucs have beaten on the boards this season.
“We work on rebounding every day in practice,” Gonzalez said. “Even though it’s a pain in practice, it paid off.”
Page scored 22 points, Harrison Goodrick had 17, and Brian Cahill 14 for the Sharks, who hit nine triples and shot 52.6 percent from the field.
Barry had 36 points in the paint, and outscored Nova, 25-11, in second chance opportunities.
“It was a good attack of the zone,” Estes said. “That’s such a good team. They’re so explosive. I never really could relax until the last minute because of their ability to hit the three. They’re the best 6-8 team in the country.”
The Buccaneers will play at Lynn 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in a battle in Boca Raton.
“It’s going to be a big task for us,” Gonzalez said.