Lynn’s Comeback Falls Short Against #11 Barry

By: Jack Rubin

Photo Credit: Victoria Alvarez, Lynn Athletic Communications

After a 94-68 blowout loss to Barry University in November, the Lynn University Fighting Knights battled in their second game against Barry on Feb. 1.

Lynn barely missed out on an upset at home against Barry, losing 80-75. Even with 27 points from sophomore Kevin O’Brien, their second half comeback was not enough. Barry improved to 18-2 with the win.

In the first half, Lynn was holding their own against the eleventh ranked Buccaneers. They jumped out to a seven point lead 12 minutes into the first half.

Jamal Palmer had eight first half points off of the bench, and he finished with 14 in his first game back from a knee injury. However, Barry closed out the half on an 18-6 run to give them a five point lead. Elvar Fridriksson lead the way with 13 points in the first.

The Fighting Knights trailed by as many as 14 in the second half, but they fought back to take the lead with under eight minutes to play. An O’Brien three-pointer put Lynn up four at 6:30. His 27 points were good for a career high.

Photo Credit: Victoria Alvarez, Lynn Athletic Communications

Lynn could not hold on though, as a full team effort from Barry helped them prevail. The Buccaneers had four players in double figures; most notably Arie Williams who contributed 12 in the second half.

The defining moment for the Fighting Knights came with 34 seconds remaining, when they were down 76-75. A tough Lynn turnover all but ended the game.

Though Lynn knocked down 14 three-point shots, two shy of a school record, their 50% performance at the free-throw line proved costly. O’Brien was key to the team’s three-point shooting night, knocking down seven of nine. He has been hot as of late, now averaging 11.3 points per game while shooting almost 40% from three-point range.

This loss is the most recent addition to a five-game Fighting Knights losing streak. Lynn now sits at a rough 5-7 in conference play with their last win coming close to a full month ago.

Barry swept the season series with this win and they lead the matchup against Lynn historically, 28-25.

With the loss, the Fighting Knights fell to seventh place in the Sunshine State Conference. Barry is currently the seventh ranked team in all of Division II. Lynn is back in action Feb. 8 away at Saint Leo.