MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Adrian Gonzalez tied a school record, going 10 of 10 from the floor, and Barry University’s No. 22-ranked men’s basketball team beat Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Friday, 89-64.
“I felt good. My body felt good,” said Gonzalez, whose 1.000 shooting percentage matched Willie Whitfield’s 10-for-10 performance against West Florida on Dec. 19, 2010.
“I didn’t make shots that were out of my range. I try to get my teammates involved. I don’t care who scores, as long as we’re playing well.”
The Buccaneers (2-0) were playing well all right, opening up a 57-26 halftime lead on the heels of 64.7 percent shooting. Barry never trailed in a game its benched outscored the Tarzans, 49-35. The Bucs also had 25 assists, 18 coming in the first half.
“Don’t worry about yourself. Worry about winning,” Gonzalez said of the team’s unselfish nature. “The only way we’re going to have success is if we move the ball and concentrate on winning.”
He had 22 points in 20 minutes -- mirroring a role he's accustomed to finding ways to produce. Yunio Barrueta had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes. Juan Ferrales had 11 points, knocking down his first four shots. Barry finished 36 of 71 from the floor for 50.7 percent.
Barry outrebounded Mayaguez, 44-33, marking the fourth straight opponent, including two exhibitions the Bucs have won the board battle. The Tarzans (1-2) were held to 37.9 percent from the field.
After both of the Bucs big men found themselves in first half foul trouble, sophomore power forward Alvaro Simoza spelled his front court partners, and finished with a career-best six points and three boards in 13 minutes. His four points, two boards and an assist in seven minutes in the first half earned the respect of coach Butch Estes, who now has another option to go to down low.
“Even though Alvaro doesn’t play a whole lot, he’s a key part of our team,” said Gonzalez, who shares special Hialeah Gardens High School bonds with Simoza. “I talk to him every once in a while just to keep his head up and keep going. He was here last year so now the offense is coming natural to him. He looked comfortable.”
Simoza knocked down a triple with 5:17 to play in the first half to extend the Buccaneers’ lead to 37-17 on one of Deric Hill’s five assists. Hill also had eight points and two steals.
“We’re happy with the win,” Gonzalez said. “But now it’s on to the next task, and that’s Florida Memorial on Tuesday.”