SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University men's basketball team suffered a tough loss at home on Saturday night to open the 2024 portion of its schedule. The Lions battled early to force a back-and-forth game against the Barry University Buccaneers that saw seven lead changes over the first nine minutes. Saint Leo falls to 7-6 overall and 2-3 in SSC play.

Cantia Rahming got the Lions on the board in the first half to make it 3-2 Barry. A minute later, Rahming capitalized on a Barry turnover to give the home team its first lead of the game. The Lions kept the game close during the first 10 minutes but just couldn't break through with a run to set the pace. Barry established an early lead in the first half, The Bucs' James Montgomery tied the game with a free throw and gave the visitors a 21-20 lead mid-way through the first half, a lead the Buccaneers would never relinquish. Adren Roberts' jumper with four and half minutes remaining in the first half gave the Bucs their first double-digit lead and a 35-24 advantage. The Lions got a pair of made treys from Alex Sherwood and Amar Hot over the final three minutes, but the Bucs took a 49-31 advantage into the halftime break.

The Buccaneers showcased their scoring prowess, making effective use of three-pointers and accurate free-throw shooting. The Lions faced an uphill battle, but they aimed to regroup during halftime.

The second half witnessed Saint Leo attempting a spirited effort, led by Kanon Koster, who contributed 22 points. While the Lions intensified their defensive strategies and displayed resilience, the Buccaneers maintained control of the lead.

Saint Leo got double-digit point totals from Kanon Koster, who had a game-high 22 points, Greyson Pritzl (13), and Cantia Rahming (12). Rahming led the game with four offensive rebounds for seven total boards.

Head Coach Lance Randall following tonight's loss to Barry:
"Barry dismantled us on both sides of the ball. We did not have enough focus or juice to push back and get stops."

"Last game [at Rollins] we had 24 assists and six turnovers, which is an outstanding statline. This game we had twelve turnovers in the first half, many of them pick sixes. It set a bad tone and further complicated any attempt to turn the ship around tonight."

"We must be more focused on doing the little things well. There's no time to feel sorry for ourselves as we have a quick turnaround with first-place Florida Southern coming in to Bowman on Wednesday night."

The Lions will regroup and set their focus on a Florida Southern team that is 5-1 in conference play but is coming off its first conference loss of the season, a three-point deficit at Florida Tech. The Lions and Mocs are set to hit the hardwood at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10. Join us in the Marion Bowman Activities Center on Wednesday for Lake Jovita Night.

For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo Men's Basketball, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.