ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- In yet another form of adversity, Barry University men’s basketball found a way.
The No. 3-ranked Buccaneers overcame a 17-point deficit – the largest of the season -- with 6:59 to play to pull out a wild one at the McArthur Center, 111-108.
Barry’s 111 points tied the second highest scoring total in school history behind the 115 the Bucs scored against Puerto Rico-Humacao on Dec. 12, 1999. Barry also scored 111 points on two other occasions, most recently against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez last season.
“We were on the brink of falling off, but we found a way,” Barry coach Butch Estes said. “For 30 minutes, they dictated the tempo of this game. You talk about a clinic. We couldn’t stop ’em.”
A relentless pressure defense effort that appeared to be costly for the first 35 minutes of the game finally paid off late for the Buccaneers, who came up with big steals and forced turnovers to get themselves back in the game. Barry (15-1, 7-0 Sunshine State Conference) forced 17 turnovers, 13 of them coming after the 10:56 mark of the second half.
“When we were running our traps in the backcourt, before they got it past half court it was working, but once they got it past half court, they were able to move it to the opposite side corner for a shot,” Bucs assistant coach Mike Bradley said. “Then we were able to move it up, and make the trap effective before they got in their half court set.”
Barry used a 19-3 run to force overtime.
Arie Williams’ steal and three-pointer brought the Buccaneers within 10. Juan Ferrales’ steal led to a Jevoni Robinson dunk with 3:51 left in regulation to cut the Tritons’ lead to 80-77. Ferrales came up with another steal on the ensuing possession and scored to make it a one-point game.
“We just scrambled,” Estes said.
Eckerd (9-8, 3-5) built its lead back to five on Trevon Young’s layup with 2:17 to play, but the Bucs got within one on three straight free throws by Williams at the 1:37 mark. Williams buried a triple 36 seconds later to put the Buccaneers ahead by two, but Young tied the game with 41 seconds left. Both teams missed triples to send it to overtime.
Adrian Gonzalez, who was a cool nine of 10 from the field to finish with 21 points, scored at the 3:27 mark in overtime to give Barry a three-point lead. He sank two free throws 50 seconds later to keep the Bucs ahead, 94-91. But Jerrick Stevenson hit a three with 50 seconds on the clock to cap a 5-0 Tritons run that lifted Eckerd ahead, 97-95. Gonzalez stuck a jumper with 36 seconds remaining tied the game to force a second overtime.
Deric Hill’s layup and another by Yunio Barrueta put the Bucs in front by four 42 seconds into the second extra session. Eckerd’s Kendall Roberts tied the game at 101-101 before Williams delivered with another big three at the 2:46 mark. Williams sank a free throw to make it a four-point Bucs lead, but Eckerd responded again when Kevin Walsh scored in the paint and Jerrick Stevenson hit a free throw to cut it to 109-109 with 37 seconds left. Barrueta sank two free throws 23 seconds later, and the Tritons’ final triple try was off the mark, giving Barry its third win at the McArthur Center in the last four years in a game decided by three points or less.
“When you’re third in the country, you’re getting shots from everybody,” Estes said, who jokingly kidded he deserved a raise after working overtime. “That’s a really good win against a really good team.”
Stevenson had 23 points, and Young 21 for the Tritons, who were 11 of 25 from long range. Eckerd outrebounded Barry, 45-34, marking the second opponent which has beaten the Bucs on the glass.
Williams finished with 16 points, going four of seven from behind the 3-point line. His four triples matched a career-best. Ferrales finished with 20 points and two steals, and Barrueta had 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal. He was eight of 16 from the floor. Hill had 19 points, nine assists and four steals.
The Buccaneers were 15 of 31 from long distance. The 15 3-pointers fell one shy of the school record set on Dec. 16, 2011 versus Trinity.
“We feel extremely fortunate to pull out a win because night in and night out we’re going to get every team’s best shot,” Bradley said. “We’ve become a team that people really get up to play now. They bring their A game when they’re facing Barry, and prepare harder. From our standpoint, each preparation day becomes crucial to stay focused and get ready to receive each team’s best shot, and give ’em our best shot right back.”