DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - [PDF Bracket | Championship Central] – Barry University and Eckerd College will square off in the 2016 Sunshine State Conference Men's Basketball Tournament finale. Tipoff will be on Sunday, March 6th in the ICI Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Championship Final | Location: ICI Center – Daytona Beach | Time: 1 p.m. – March 6th
No. 1 seed Barry University (23-5, 12-4) vs. No. 2 seed Eckerd College (24-6, 12-4)
How They Got There:
Barry defeated No. 8 seeded Florida Southern, 95-79, at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens in the quarterfinals. The Buccaneers then uprooted Saint Leo, 91-72, at the ICI Center in Daytona Beach. Yunio Barrueta led all scorers in the semifinal match with 27 points. Adrian Gonzalez poured in 16 points in 20 minutes off the bench. (
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In the quarterfinal round, Eckerd defeated No. 7 seeded Florida Tech, 95-70, in St. Petersburg. The Tritons fought off the No. 6 seeded Fighting Knights of Lynn during the neutral site semifinals, 64-61. Ray Darnell and Drushaun McLaurn led Eckerd in scoring, 19 points and 17 points, respectively, during the semifinal. (
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Matchup
Barry and Eckerd shared the 2016 SSC Men’s Basketball Regular Season Championship, along with Rollins. During the season series, the Buccaneers and Tritons split, 1-1. Eckerd struck first, winning 90-74 on January 16th in St. Petersburg. Barry got redemption during the final game of the regular season with a 82-79 victory in Miami Shores.
Players to Watch
SSC Player of the Year, Yunio Barrueta (Barry), recorded a 27 point / 13 rebound performance against Saint Leo in the semifinal. It marked Barrueta’s third double double against the Lions this season. Tray Leonard (Barry) tallied a 21 point / 13 rebound performance against Florida Southern in the quarterfinals.
Drushaun McLaurn and Ray Darnell (Eckerd) combined for 67 points and 25 points off the bench during the tournament. McLauren and Darnell are first and second in scoring for the Tritons over the last two games.
