MOCS Win ! 15-8 (6-6)

[E.T.]

MOCCASINS RE-GROUP WITH WIN OVER BARRY

LAKELAND - Dale Parsons scored 20 points, and Michael Simms scored 12 points with nine rebounds off the bench as Florida Southern defeated Barry, 51-46, in men's basketball Saturday night.

There was precious little offense early in the game, and for the Buccaneers (11-12, 4-9 Sunshine State Conference) there was none at all in the first eight minutes. The Moccasins (15-8, 6-6) scored the first eight points of the game while the Bucs missed their first seven shots and committed six turnovers.

Barry finally got on the scoreboard at the 11:53 mark when Ryan Saunders converted two free throws. Eddie Young then gave Barry its first basket on its next trip down the court, but the Moccasins got a bucket from Arnaldo Abreu and a 3-pointer from Parsons to take a 13-4 lead, its largest of the half.

Despite their early problems, the Buccaneers stayed in the game and trailed only 25-22 at the break after Amadou Fall's 3-pointer with three seconds to play.

Florida Southern saw its lead trimmed to one (29-28 ) after back-to-back baskets by Young early in the second half. The Moccasins answered with a 9-0 run, though, starting with a 3-pointer by Parsons. That gave the Mocs a 38-28 lead with 13 minutes to play, but they went more than six minutes without scoring after that, allowing the Bucs to claw their way back into the game.

Barry took a 41-40 lead with just under five minutes to play when Fall buried a 3-pointer from the corner. The lead changed hands three times in the next three minutes, with Florida Southern going ahead 45-44 when Parsons hit two free throws with 2:41 remaining. Simms then hit a jumper on the next possession before Parsons sealed the game by going four-for-four from the line in the final 24 seconds.

Parsons hit a trio of 3-pointers in the game while five-for-12 from the floor and seven-for-eight from the line. He scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half. Simms was the only other Moccasin in double figures with his 12 points, and also led the Mocs in rebounding and assists.

Fall also made three, 3-pointers for Barry, after coming into the game with only two in the first 22 games. He and Felipe Barrios each scored 12 points for the Buccaneers, with Barrios adding 11 rebounds. The Bucs were never able to completely overcome their 32 percent shooting in the first half though, and shot just 35 percent in the game. That included a six-for-30 effort from 3-point range. He Bucs also hurt themselves badly at the free throw line, where they were only six-for-14 overall, and one-for-six in the second half.

Florida Southern will play again Wednesday night in Boca Raton with a 7:30 game at Lynn University.