MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University men’s basketball team remained unbeaten, following Saturday’s 64-56 win over Saint Leo in the Sunshine State Conference opener.
The No. 12-ranked Buccaneers (6-0, 1-0) labored through their lowest offensive effort of the season, but held the gritty Lions (4-4, 0-1) below their season average by 14 points in a slugfest to start December. Now the Bucs will take their unblemished record into the Cruzin’ Classic hosted by Trip Sports for a 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 game against No. 16 Indianapolis at Barry’s Health & Sports Center.
It was the Bucs first win over Saint Leo since Jan. 26, 2011 – a run of seven straight for the three-time NCAA Tournament qualifying Lions under coach Lance Randall.
Barry opened up an eight-point lead with 10:26 to play in the second half when Arie Williams’ steal led to a Savad Garner layup. Juan Ferrales’ basket extended the Bucs lead to 11, but the Lions cut it to five with 6:42 left.
The Bucs responded with a 10-2 run, capped off by one of Ferrales’ four 3-pointers to give Barry its largest lead at 13 at the 2:45 mark. Saint Leo’s Cale Girten answered a dunk by Barry’s Yunio Barrueta with a triple to cut the gap to four, 58-54, with 50 seconds left.
But Barry sank six of its last eight free throws to seal it in a game that featured 11 lead changes and five ties.
The Buccaneers shot 40 percent from the field, while the Lions hit 42 percent of their shots. Barry was just six of 28 from beyond the 3-point arc. Saint Leo was five of 14.
Ferrales finished with 17 points and four rebounds. Deric Hill had 16 points, six assists and two steals. The two Florida International transfers combined to go 10 of 18 from the field, including five of 11 from long range. Jevoni Robinson had seven points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and three assists. Barrueta scored 10 points.
Ron Foxx had 14 points, five boards and two blocks for the Lions, who hit all seven of their free throws. Cale Girten scored 11 points, and Devin Crisosto and Trey Griseck each had 10.
Garner, who returned to the lineup after sitting the past two games, had seven rebounds, four points and a steal in 19 minutes. Adrian Gonzalez had eight points on four of six shooting in 14 minutes.
Barry outscored Saint Leo, 18-4, in points off turnovers.