Barry Edges
Franklin Pierce, 67-63
BOCA RATON, Fla. (December 20, 2002) - Barry University, receiving votes in this week's NABC/Division II Bulletin Top 25 poll, found its shooting touch in the second half to edge the Franklin Pierce men's basketball team, 67-63, in day two action of the Palm Beach Sunshine Hoops Challenge this evening. Barry remains unbeaten on the season as it erased a slim two-point (33-31) halftime deficit by draining 56.3-percent (9-16) of its shots in the second half. The Buccaneers also went to the line 19 times (hitting 14 of those attempts) in the second stanza, compared to just three free-throw attempts (2-3) for Franklin Pierce the entire game. Barry out-scored the Ravens by an 18-2 margin from the charity stripe for the night.
Four Buccaneers netted double-figures, led by seniors Luis Vazquez-Bello, with 17 points and six rebounds (four offensive), and Yorell Calderon, who also netted 17 points aided by five-of-seven shooting from three-point range and dished five assists. Sophomore Nick Perez added 11 points and six boards, while senior Brian Mills chipped in ten points, six rebounds and five assists. Barry finished the game shooting 48.8% (21-43), including a blistering 53.8% (7-13) from three-point range. Franklin Pierce shot a respectable 48% (24-50), cashing in on 50% (13-26) from long distance. Junior Derek Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) had the hot hand for the Ravens, netting a game-high 21 points, aided by a 5-6 effort from beyond the arc. Classmate Jimmie Hunt (Utica, N.Y./Mount Ararat (Maine)) totaled 12 points, five rebounds and three assists, while senior Zvonko Ilic (Nis, Yugoslavia) came off the bench to chip in 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Trailing, 33-31 at the intermission, a Vazquez-Bello jumper and Perez free-throw knotted the score 1:02 into the second half. After a Rodgerson trifecta gave the Ravens a 36-33 advantage just 24-seconds later, Barry matched with a Calderon three and took the lead on a Mills layup with 16:26 on the clock. Barry pushed its advantage to five points with 14:42 to play, but held just a one-point (49-48) lead with 10:27 to play. The Bucs then reeled off a backbreaking 12-3 run over the next six minutes to take a 61-51 advantage with just 3:48 to go. The Ravens were able to trim the deficit to three-points on two occasions in the final minute, but Barry iced the game at the line. Franklin Pierce (2-7, 1-4 NE-10) returns to action tomorrow afternoon for the final day of the Palm Beach Sunshine Hoops Challenge when it faces Nova Southeastern University (4-8) at 3 p.m. Barry (9-0) faces University of Indianapolis at 5 p.m. |
