LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern men's basketball (12-4, 4-2 Sunshine State) claimed a 97-84 victory over Barry (6-8, 1-5 Sunshine State) on Wednesday night at Jenkins Field House. Florida Southern's 15 three-pointers contributed significantly to their win.
"It was great to see our guys bounce back tonight," stated Moccasin head coach
Mike Donnelly. "
Riley Buccino gave us huge minutes and production off the bench as did
Spencer Schomers. Having different guys step up and make big plays at both ends of the floor was the difference in tonight's win."
The Moccasins opened the game strongly with a defensive stop, as
Charlie Dalton recorded a steal just seconds into play.
Brady Corso capitalized on this momentum, sinking two free throws and a fastbreak 3-pointer, aided by
Ameer Ramadan's assist. The home team maintained pressure, forcing early turnovers from the Buccaneers and extending their lead to 14–2 through consistent scoring efforts from multiple players.
As the period progressed,
Khalil Ross contributed significantly with a defensive rebound and a successful 3-pointer, and
Riley Buccino added key baskets, including a blocked shot followed by a jumper. Florida Southern's defensive efforts, highlighted by six steals, disrupted Barry's play and allowed the home team to build a substantial lead.
Closing the period, the Moccasins continued to dominate both ends of the floor. Ramadan and Ross combined for a layup and a 3-pointer, keeping the scoring steady. Ross sealed the period with two successful free throws, closing it at 53–36 in favor of the Mocs.
Florida Southern continued to push their advantage in the second period, leveraging strong defensive plays and efficient scoring. Corso's early steal and assist facilitated an Ramadan 3-pointer, allowing the team to maintain momentum. The team showed resilience, notably with
Spencer Schomers' and Ross' contributions, helping to counter Barry's scoring efforts.
Despite Barry's attempts to close the gap with fast-break points and successful shots from beyond the arc, FSC responded effectively. Buccino's dunk and subsequent 3-pointer, along with consistent free-throw shooting from Ramadan, helped sustain the lead. The period concluded with the Moccasins holding a 97-84 advantage.
Ramadan and Buccino led the Mocs and both set career-highs with 21 points apiece. Ramadan made three 3-pointers and converted all eight of his free throws, while Buccino sunk five 3-pointers and recording two steals. Ross added 19 points and was perfect from the free-throw line, going 6-for-6. Dalton contributed significantly with 11 points and dished out a team-high six assists.
Looking ahead, FSC will travel to face Florida Tech on Saturday, Jan. 10. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at the Charles and Ruth Clemente Center in Melbourne, Florida.
