Box Score MIAMI SHORES - Second-ranked Florida Southern used a 9-1 run over the final two-plus minutes of the game here Wednesday evening to post an 88-79 victory over third-ranked Barry in Sunshine State Conference action at the Health and Sports Center on the Barry campus. The game was a match-up of the top two teams in the SSC this season.
The Moccasins, who won its ninth consecutive game overall and improved to 20-1 on the season and 8-1 in the SSC, began its game closing run with a three-pointer from the top of the key by senior All-American guard Kevin Capers (Winter Haven, Fla.) with 2:09 left in the game. Capers' trey came 31 seconds after Barry's Arie Williams drilled a triple to pull the Buccaneers (17-2 overall, 9-1 SSC) within a point at 79-78.
After Jevoni Robinson hit 1-of-2 free throws with 1:49 left to pull Barry within 82-79, the Mocs would close out the game by hitting six of seven free throws in the game's final 95 seconds to earn the victory.
"I thought we did a good job guarding tonight and not giving them (Barry) a lot of easy baskets, that is something they got the last time we played them," Moccasin head coach Linc Darner said. "We were able to get some stops at the end and hit some free throws."
Wednesday's victory helped the Mocs avenge a 107-102 loss to the Bucs in Lakeland on Jan. 3 to open its 2014-15 SSC slate.
In addition to avenging an earlier loss to the Bucs, the win also helped the Mocs win its 20th game on the year. It marks the eighth consecutive season that the Mocs have won 20 games in a season.
One of the biggest advantages for the Mocs in Wednesday's game was their ability to force turnovers as they forced the Bucs into 22 turnovers that led to 18 points. The 22 turnovers also helped the Mocs take eight additional field goals in the win.
"Turnover margin was huge for us tonight. Anytime you can get more shots than your opponent, you have a better chance to win the game," said Darner, who has led the Mocs to eight straight 20 win seasons in his nine years as FSC's coach.
Capers led the way offensively for the Mocs on the night as he tallied 24 points, including scoring 15 points in the first half to help the Mocs take a 41-39 halftime lead. It was his 13th game this season of scoring 20 or points and his eighth consecutive double-digit scoring effort.
In addition to Capers, senior forward Stephen Battle (Waldorf, Md.) had 13 points and six boards, while senior forward Bubby Johnson (Waldorf, Md.) collected his third double-double of the season as he had 12 points and collected 10 rebounds. The fourth Moc to score in double figures was senior guard Tyler Logan (Landover, Md.) as he added 10 points in the win.
"Barry is a really good team and we'll see them again thise season," Darner added. "It was a good win for our team and allows us to control our fate in the race for the conference title."
Barry, who had its 11 game win streak snapped with the loss, was paced by 22 points from Yunio Barrueta, while Juan Ferrales had 13 points in the loss. Savad Garner and Adrian Gonzalez each had 10 points for the game.
After holding a 41-39 lead at the half, the Mocs opened the second half on a 25-15 run to turn its two-point edge into a 12-point lead at 66-54 following a lay-up by senior guard Tyler Kelly (Pickerington, Ohio) with 11:43 left in the game.
The Bucs, though, wouldn't go away as they used a 10-2 run to pull within 68-64 following a bucket by Barrueta with 8:29 left in the game.
FSC would come right back and score eight of the next 12 points to push its lead out to 76-68 following two free throws by junior guard Dylan Travis (Omaha, Neb.), before Barry reeled off seven consecutive points to pull within one point at 76-75 after a lay-up by Ferrales.
After Capers scored on a jumper and Kelly hit 1-of-2 free thows to give FSC a 79-75 lead with 2:48 remaining, before Williams' trey brought Barry within a point.
In the first half, the Mocs used an 11-0 run over a span of seven-plus minutes to turn an 18-15 deficit into a 26-18 lead. The run began with three free throws from Travis and was capped by a Travis free throw with 5:50 left in the opening half.
Barry, though, would respond with a 10-0 run to take a 28-26 lead follow a trey from Barrueta with 4:44 left in the half. The Mocs would score four consecutive points to take a 30-28 lead, before Anders Haas hit a trey to give the Bucs a 31-30 lead.
After Barry took a 33-32 on a lay-up by Barrueta, the Mocs would close the half on a 9-6 run to go into halftime holding a two point lead.
The Mocs finished the game shooting 43 percent from the field and 31 percent from the 3-point line and was 16-for-20 (80 percent) at the free throw line, while Barry shot 42 percent from the field and was held to 22 percent (6-for-27) from the 3-point line and was 17-for-18 (94.4 percent) at the line.
FSC forced Barry into 22 turnovers and scored 18 points off those turnovers. The Mocs committed 12 turnovers in the win.
The Mocs will look to continue its hot play as they return home to Jenkins Field House to host Nova Southeastern (9-10, 5-5 SSC) on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. FSC collected a 77-74 win over the Sharks in Davie on Jan. 10.
"This win tonight doesn't mean anything if we don't go out and take care of business at home Saturday against Nova Southeastern," said Darner. "We've got to be ready to play."
