MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Buccaneers were knocking ‘em down from downtown.
Barry hit 14 three-pointers in an 85-77 come-from-behind victory over Florida Tech Wednesday at Health & Sports Center to move into a tie for first place in the Sunshine State Conference. The Bucs (8-7, 3-1) fell one short of the school record for triples made in a game.
Evan White made six of 14 from three-point range en route to a 22-point performance. He knocked down four straight triples to open the second half to help the Bucs turn a four-point deficit into a three-point lead they never relinquished.
Barry went 14 of 35 from beyond the arc, including a 10-for-17 second-half effort, which helped turned a three-point hole into what bulged into a 13-point edge by the 9:37 mark of the second half. Florida Tech (10-3, 3-2) drew within nine on Anthony Jackson's layup with 7:42 to play, but Barry's Jermaine Edwards followed up a Bryan Van Cott triple to push the Bucs back up 14.
The 35 triple tries were also the second most in school history. Barry's school record for three-pointers made in a game was 15 against Nova Southeastern on Nov. 19, 2000. The Buccaneers' record for triples attempted was 52 against Rollins on Jan. 23, 2008.
Edwards hit a pair of free throws to extend Barry's lead to 18 with 4:38 left on the clock before it became a free throw contest. The Bucs sank 17 of 25 three throws. The Panthers were 18 of 25 from the line.
Barry held Florida Tech's Simon Cummings to 0 for 9 shooting from beyond the arc. Cummings tied an NCAA Division II national record for consecutive triples made in a game (10) earlier this season. He finished with 17 points on 4 of 21 shooting.
Edwards and Chad Renfro had 15 points apiece for the Buccaneers, which have won four in a row and five of their past six. Van Cott had 11 points and six rebounds. Edwards had seven boards and two blocks, and Renfro four assists.
Jackson also had 17 for the Panthers, and Derek Hellemann finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Julius Reid had 10 points, five assists and five boards.
Barry, which outscored Florida Tech, 43-25, in bench production, plays its next two games on the road. The Bucs visit Florida Southern Saturday and Rollins next Wednesday before returning home on Jan. 21 against Eckerd.