MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University has a penchant for finishing strong. Saturday the Buccaneers did it again in a 96-75 win over Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras to win the Cesar Odio Thanksgiving Classic.
Barry was the only team in the four-game weekend event to go unbeaten.
The Bucs, ranked No. 20 in the NCAA Division II media poll and No. 24 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll, turned a two-point halftime lead into another rout in the Health & Sports Center. The Bucs (5-0) led by as many as 32 in the second half in a game that featured eight lead changes in the first half.
Early in the first half, the Bucs trailed by seven when Barry coach Butch Estes emptied his bench in a wholesale substitution, taking all five of his starters off the floor. The Bucs second unit of Arie Williams, Jevoni Robinson, Adrian Gonzalez, Alvaro Simoza and Kendall Leslie produced a 9-0 run to put Barry in front, 22-20. Josh Irving and Simoza scored back-to-back buckets, and Williams converted a three-point play to extend Barry's lead to six.
“It was another wake-up call and a chance for our second unit to come out with some energy," Williams said after scoring a career-high 19 points. "I thought our second unit did a great job.”
Rio Piedras (2-7) used 25 points on seven triples from Bryan Martinez to keep it a two-point game at the break. Martinez, who was named to the All-Odio Thanksgiving Classic Team, finished with 37 points on 11 of 16 shooting. It was the most an opponent has scored on Barry since Saint Leo's Jerrel Harris dropped 41 on the Bucs in an 84-81 loss last season in Miami Shores.
Barry buried nine of its 11 triples in the second half, and shot 62 percent from the floor, outscoring the Gallitos, 56-37, after the intermission.
Tray Leonard, named to the All-Odio Classic Team, threw down a dunk on one of Deric Hill's seven assists 4:35 into the second half to give the Buccaneers a 15-point lead. Gonzalez's field goal at the 10:20 mark extended the lead to 25.
Williams was four of nine from beyond the arc. He and Juan Ferrales have a team-best 12 triples this season. Ferrales, also named to the All-Odio Classic Team, scored 15 points on six of 10 shooting, and had three assists. Williams also had two steals.
“I think my effort on defense kind of picked me up offensively, so I was real happy I got into a groove again," Williams said.
Barry's Anders Haas buried four 3-pointers on his way to 14 points and seven assists. Yunio Barrueta, named All-Odio Classic Most Valuable Player, finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and a block. Seven of his points came from the free throw line.
Leonard had 13 points, seven boards and two steals.
The Buccaneers outrebounded Rio Piedras, 42-18.
Barry will host Saint Leo in the Sunshine State Conference opener next Saturday at 4 p.m.
“We had tough time with them last year," Williams said of the Lions, "so it’s going to be a big game."
ALL-CESAR ODIO THANKSGIVING CLASSIC TEAM
CJ Wilson G Young Harris
Charles Ward G Sioux Falls
Bryan Martinez G PR-Rio Piedras
Juan Ferrales G BarryU
Tray Leonard C BarryU
Most Valuable Player
Yunio Barrueta F BarryU