MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University’s No. 7-ranked men’s basketball team beat Palm Beach Atlantic, 83-66, Saturday on a day history was created.
The Buccaneers (11-1) matched their best start in school history, equaling that of the 2000-01 team. Second-year Bucs coach Butch Estes recorded his 300th win at a four-year school.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, but none more than what we’ve done here at Barry,” Estes said after improving to 473-319 in his 32nd year at the college level.
Barry led by as many as 24 late in the first half – a half the Buccaneers shot 50 percent from the field. But the Sailfish (5-7) used a 13-5 run to start the second half to cut the lead to 49-35 with 14:40 to play. Triples by Anders Haas and Arie Williams pushed the Bucs lead back to 20, however, just 1:28 later.
Juan Ferrales scored at the 10:52 mark to extend Barry’s lead to 23. Savad Garner scored in transition to make it a 25-point game, and Yunio Barrueta canned one of his four triples to push the Bucs up 76-48 with 5:22 on the clock.
Barrueta had 28 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 9 of 13 from the field. It was his fifth double-double of the season. Ferrales scored 18 points. Williams had 11 points, and Hill 12 assists and three steals. Haas had eight points and six assists. Evin Graham led the Sailfish with 17 points and six assists. Clayton Williams scored 14 points, and Garet Tucker had 13 points and seven boards. Nigel Sydnor added 10 points and eight assists.
Barry was outrebounded for the first time all year, 43-37.
“I’m not really happy with that,” Estes said. “There were some areas of toughness … I thought they out-toughed us.”
The Bucs outscored the Sailfish, 29-5, in points off turnovers, and 28-13, in fastbreak points.
Barry will host Florida Tech at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Health & Sports Center.