LAKELAND - Second-ranked Florida Southern will look to shake off the rust from a 12-day layoff here on Saturday evening as the Moccasins host 11th-ranked Barry in a Sunshine State Conference match-up. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jenkins Field House on the FSC campus.
Saturday's game, which will mark the Mocs first game of the New Year and its first since posting a 93-57 win over Miles on Dec. 21 to conclude the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule, is the first SSC game of the season for the Mocs and the second league game of the year for Barry.
FSC comes into Saturday's contest having opened the season by winning its first 11 games for the second consecutive season and 10th time in school history. FSC, who is 11-0 on the season, is one of eight remaining undefeated teams in Division II men's basketball and the 11-game win streak is currently tied for the second longest active win streak in Division II as No. 3 ranked UC-Colorado Springs has won 12 consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Barry enters the game having won two straight and eight of its first nine games this season as the Buccaneers only loss came on Dec. 16 at home as they fell 78-73 to then ninth-ranked Indianapolis. Since that loss to Indianapolis, the Bucs closed out its pre-Christmas schedule by picking up a 97-70 win over Nyack and a 98-90 win over Winston-Salem State at the Lynn Holiday Classic in Boca Raton. Barry, who was tabbed to finish second in the Preseason SSC Coaches' Poll, are 1-0 in the league as they opened SSC play with a 64-56 win at home against Saint Leo on Dec. 6.
Saturday's match-up will mark the 61st meeting all-time in the series between the two schools as FSC holds a 45-15 edge in the series. The Mocs have won seven of the last eight games in the series with the only loss being a 94-76 loss in Miami Shores on Feb. 5. FSC holds a 23-4 lead in the series in Lakeland and Barry hasn't won in Lakeland since earning a 68-58 victory on Feb. 10, 2007. Ninth-year Moc coach Linc Darner is 13-6 all-time against Barry, including being 7-1 in Lakeland against the Bucs.
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As a team, Barry, who returns four starters and eight key players from last season's 19-9 squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament, has three players averaging in double figures led by junior forward Yunio Barrueta. Barrueta is averaging 17.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game and is shooting 53 percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line and has scored in double figures in all nine games and has posted three double-doubles on the year. In addition to Barrueta, senior guard Juan Ferrales and Anders Haas are tied for second on the team in scoring as they both average 12.6 points per game. Ferrales, who was the team's leading scorer a year ago at nearly 16 points per game, is also averaging 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game and is shooting 41 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line and has scored in double figures in six games, while Haas, who is the reigning SSC Player of the Week, is also averaging 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game and the transfer from the University of Albany is shooting 45 percent from the floor, 42 percent from the 3-point line and is second in the SSC in free throw shooting at 93.1 percent.
The Bucs early season success can be attributed to an offense that is third in the league in scoring as they are averaging 86.1 points per game and have scored 89 or more points in six games, including scoring 90-plus points in two consecutive games. Along with a averaging nearly 87 points per game, Barry leads the SSC in field goal percentage (48.1 percent) and is third in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (38.6 percent). Additionally, they also lead the league in rebound margin (+10.3) and lead the SSC and are fifth nationally in assists (20.9 per game). On defense, Barry is allowing 68.1 points per game and are limiting their opponents to 41 percent field goal shooting and 35 percent shooting from the 3-point line.
Barry is under the direction of second-year head coach Butch Estes. Estes, who is 27-10 with the Bucs, is in his 31st season as a collegiate head coach and 19th season at a four-year school. He is 470-319 as a collegiate head coach, including posting a 297-253 record at four year schools. Prior to his arrival at Barry, Estes spent the past three seasons at Palm Beach State College, where he led the Panthers to three consecutive conference titles, including posting a school record 29 wins in 2012-13. Along with being a head coach, Estes was also an assistant coach at both Miami (Fla.) and Seattle University, both of which are Division I schools.
The Bucs will see a team that plays a similar style offensively on Saturday as the Mocs come into the game leading the SSC and is third nationally in scoring as they are averaging 96.3 points per game and have scored 80 or more points in all 11 games, including tallying 90-plus points in six straight games. In addition to leading the SSC in scoring, the Mocs also lead the league in scoring margin (+20.3) and are second nationally in turnover margin (+10.4). On the season, FSC is shooting 44.7 percent from the field and is second in the SSC in three-point shooting at 38.7 percent and are second in the SSC and 12th nationally in free throw shooting as they are hitting 77.6 percent of its free throws. The Mocs are also second in the league in both assists (18.7) and steals (11.5) and are making 9.2 treys per game.
FSC has five players averaging in double figues led by senior All-American guard Kevin Capers (Winter Haven, Fla.). Capers is averaging an SSC-best 22.5 points per game and has scored in double figures in 10 of 11 games on the year, including tallying 20 or more points in eight of those contests. Along with averaging 22.5 points per game, Capers is also averaging 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game and is shooting 49 percent from the field and 82 percent (83-for-101) at the free throw line. Along with Capers, the team's second leading scorer is senior guard Tyler Kelly (Pickerington, Ohio). Kelly, who was named the USBWA Division II National Player of the Week on Dec. 16, is averaging 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game and is shooting 44 percent from both the field and 3-point line and leads the team with 26 made 3-pointers.
The Mocs other double-digit scorers are sophomore guard Michael Volovic (Carmel, Ind.), senior forward Stephen Battle (Waldorf, Md.) and junior guard Dylan Travis (Omaha, Neb.). Volovic is averaging 11.6 points off the bench and is shooting 47 percent from the field, 49 percent from the 3-point line and 78 percent at the free throw through the first 11 games and has tallied double digits in six of those games, while Battle is averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and is shooting 45 percent from the field and leads the team with 15 blocked shots and has scored in double figues in seven games and Travis is averaging 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game off the bench and is shooting 43 percent from the field, 33 percent from the 3-point line and 77 percent at the charity stripe. Travis is also third on the team in steals with 17 and fourth in assists with 24 and has scored in double figures in three consecutive games and seven times on the year.
Following Saturday's game, the Mocs will hit the road for the first time in SSC play as they begin a two-game road swing on Wednesday, Jan. 7 with a 7:30 p.m. game at Saint Leo (8-4, 0-1 SSC), before traveling to Davie for a 4 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 11 against Nova Southeastern (5-4, 1-0 SSC).
Complete Barry Game Notes
