MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Playing without a full deck, Barry's rally cry came up short.
A shorthanded Buccaneers squad -- minus four players -- nearly pulled off a courageous win Saturday over visiting Florida Southern before falling, 71-67 at Health & Sports Center.
Barry (11-13, 5-7 Sunshine State Conference) drew within one on Chad Renfro's three-point play with 2:27 remaining. But Seth Evans hit a jumper on the Moccasins' next trip down the floor to bump Florida Southern (14-8, 7-6) ahead, 64-41. Following a Barry turnover and offensive foul, Florida Southern's Brett Bailey scored on a layup with 1:25 to go to extend the lead to five.
Bryan Van Cott buried a three as the Bucs cut it to 66-64, but Bailey answered with a bucket on the other end with 43 seonds left. When Barry failed to convert on its next possession, Evans responded by hitting the front end of a pair of free throws to push Florida Southern's lead back to five.
Justin McCoy drilled a triple with 18 seconds left to pull Barry within two, but Evans sank a pair of free throws to ice it.
It was Barry's second loss in three games decided by four points or less. The Buccaneers, which play at Florida Tech Wednesday, have four games remaining to try to climb over the .500 mark.
Florida Southern attempted 70 field goals in a game Barry was outrebounded by 15. The Mocs shot 41.4 percent, while the Bucs hit 43.1 percent of their shots. Barry's bench outscored Florida Southern, 30-17. The Moccasins outscored Barry, 28-18, in the paint.
Vladimir Raymonvil hit four of five triples, scoring 14 points. McCoy and Renfro each had 16. Bailey had 22 points and eight boards. Evans scored 15, and Dominic Lane had 13 for the Mocs.
Florida Southern had 18 offensive rebounds to Barry's five. Damien Dwaine and McCoy each had four assists. Kevin Capers had six for Florida Southern.