MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Ryan Saunders became Barry’s all-time career assist leader as the Barry University men’s basketball team (5-1) downed the Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Gallitos (0-2) 70-57 at the Health & Sports Center on Friday night.
In only their second home game of the new season, the Buccaneers took an early 11-6 lead with 14:09 remaining in the first half. The Gallitos battled back until they chipped their way into the lead on an Edwardo Vazquez three-pointer at the 5:45 mark. But behind Phil Puccia’s nine first-half points, the Buccaneers managed to take a 27-24 lead into the locker room.
The Buccaneer offense bolted out of the gates in the second half outscoring the Gallitos 43-33. Rio Piedras tied the game within the first five minutes of the half, but Barry took a 13-point lead 57-44 over the next 10 minutes and held on to win by the same margin 70-57.
Four Buccaneers eclipsed the double-figure scoring mark led by Puccia’s 15 points. Saunders, Felipe Barrios and Otis White each added 11 points. Amadou Fall led Barry on the board reeling in a team-high eight rebounds.
Saunders handed out seven assists on the night bringing his career total to 483. He became Barry’s all-time career assist leader surpassing Nelson Fonseca who set the record in 1995.
The Gallitos were led by Vazquez who came in off the bench to score a team-best 13 points, while recording seven rebounds.
The Buccaneers will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 pm hosting Alabama-Huntsville at the Health & Sports Center.
Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras vs Barry
12/15/06 7:30 pm at Health&Sports Center (Miami Shores, FL)
BARRY 70, PUERTO RICO-RIO PIEDRAS 57
PUERTO RICO-RIO PIEDRAS (0-2)
VAZQUEZ, Eduardo 4-6 2-3 13; TOSTE, Ian 2-10 4-6 9; RIVERA, Norberto 3-12
0-0 9; ALVAREZ, Nestor 3-3 1-2 7; MORALES, Savier 3-3 0-0 6; MENENDEZ, David
1-3 2-5 5; GILL, Anthony 1-1 1-2 4; COLON, Abraham 1-4 0-0 3; REYES, Juan
0-1 1-2 1; DIAZ, Luis 0-5 0-0 0; GONZALEZ, Pedro 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-49
11-20 57.
BARRY (5-1)
PUCCIA, Phil 5-13 1-4 15; SAUNDERS, Ryan 3-7 5-6 11; WHITE, Otis 4-12 0-0
11; BARRIOS, Felipe 3-10 5-7 11; YOUNG, Eddie 3-8 3-3 9; FALL, Amadou 1-4
4-4 6; LAZO, Gabe 1-3 0-0 3; BISHOP, Chad 1-3 0-0 2; ASTIGARRAGA, Bryan 0-0
2-2 2; WILLIS, Jeff 0-0 0-0 0; CHIVERTON, Bryan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-61
20-26 70.
Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras....... 24 33 - 57
Barry......................... 27 43 - 70
3-point goals--Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 10-33 (RIVERA, Norberto 3-11;
VAZQUEZ, Eduardo 3-5; TOSTE, Ian 1-7; COLON, Abraham 1-2; MENENDEZ, David
1-2; GILL, Anthony 1-1; DIAZ, Luis 0-5), Barry 8-29 (PUCCIA, Phil 4-11;
WHITE, Otis 3-8; LAZO, Gabe 1-3; YOUNG, Eddie 0-1; FALL, Amadou 0-1; BISHOP,
Chad 0-1; BARRIOS, Felipe 0-3; SAUNDERS, Ryan 0-1). Fouled out--Puerto
Rico-Rio Piedras-None, Barry-BARRIOS, Felipe. Rebounds--Puerto Rico-Rio
Piedras 36 (VAZQUEZ, Eduardo 7), Barry 38 (FALL, Amadou 8). Assists--Puerto
Rico-Rio Piedras 12 (TOSTE, Ian 5), Barry 14 (SAUNDERS, Ryan 7). Total
fouls--Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 22, Barry 18. Technical fouls--Puerto
Rico-Rio Piedras-None, Barry-None. A-213