Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Justin McCoy ripped the cords from deep with 3.2 seconds left on the clock to complete an improbable comeback in the latter stages and send Barry University past the Eckerd College men's basketball program on Saturday, 68-66.
McCoy's triple, one of five treys in the game for the junior, neutralized a go-ahead three-point bucket at the top of the key by sophomore
Alex Bodney that sent the home crowd into a frenzy just seconds prior.
Eckerd crossed midcourt in a hurry with the little time remaining, but the last shot was offline.
The game winner was one of a number of tough shots McCoy hit under duress. In the first half, he beat the shot clock with a contested heave from deep in three-point territory that defied physics and somehow banked home.
Later, the Buccaneers' guard launched a rainbow three-point shot that bounced high off the front of the rim and found the bottom of the net.
The Tritons (18-6, 10-4 SSC) came into today's contest on a seven-game win streak and victors of 11 of their last 12, but the Buccaneers (12-14, 6-8 SSC) proved to be a thorn in EC's side and completed the regular-season sweep.
With Florida Tech sinking Rollins College today, the Panthers will have a half-game lead on Eckerd when the Sunshine State Conference standings are updated.
After Barry guard Evan White erupted for 25 points in the previous meeting in Miami Shores, the Tritons held him scoreless, but his offensive absence was overcome by McCoy and the post play from Emory Bennett, who collected 15 points and seven rebounds.
It was a bruising battle on both ends of the court and bodies crashed to the court all afternoon. Defense began to play a key factor as the intensity level was ratcheted up again late in the second half.
Lance Kearse fiercely stamped 'return to sender' against Derrick Bolanos under the cylinder that sparked a fast break and easy lay-in for
Darrien Mack for an EC 49-46 lead with just over eight minutes to play.
Kearse had two blocked shots to go along with 16 points and seven rebounds. He then tied the game late for the 12th time with a layup and just 2:07 left in regulation.
Mack also swatted two shots and joined Kearse in double figures with 12 points while senior
Wayne Sears Jr. totaled 11 on 4-of-6 shooting.
The Tritons led by as many as five in a tight first half as a pair of jumpers by
Josh Snodgrass on separate possessions had Eckerd looking to pull away. But in both instances, they were countered with threes, one by McCoy and the other by Chad Renfro.
McCoy buried a three that gave Barry a two-point lead at the intermission.
The Tritons will look to bounce back next Wednesday on the road against Saint Leo University (13-10, 7-6 SSC) for another highly-anticipated conference matchup.
