MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – In an overtime thriller between two crosstown rivals, 18^th ranked St. Thomas (9-2) defeated Barry (4-3) 84-82 at the HSC Gymnasium.  With the win, the Bobcats swept the season series vs. the Buccaneers, having won another two-point game, 53-51 in a home game on Nov. 13.
 
Junior center Demonte' Simpson led the Bobcats with 26 points and 12 rebounds as the reigning Sun Conference Player of the Week recorded his fourth double-double in as many games.  Simpson had eight points and five rebounds in the overtime period and played most of the second half and the overtime period with four fouls.  For the game, Simpson shot 10-of-13 from the field and 6-of-10 from the line.
 
Guard Floyd Battle scored 22 points with two three-pointers and four assists.  Point guard Kevin Hincapie scored 18 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the free throw to go alon with five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
 
The Bobcats shot five-of-nine (56%) in the overtime period and sank four free throws en route to the victory.  Forward Lorel Beckford scored STU's final four points on a layup on an assist from Hincapie and two made free throws to give the Bobcats a 84-80 lead with 21.5 seconds to play.  Two Barry free throws cut the lead to two points with 16 seconds to play.  The Buccaneers had several chances to tie the game in the final seconds, but STU got the stops it needed to get out the gym with the win.
 
The game started with Barry jumping out to a 7-0 lead as the Bobcats struggled with turnovers.  STU would respond, reeling off a 21-3 run to take a 21-10 lead to give the Bobcats their largest lead of the game.
 
Heading into the break, St. Thomas led 28-26 in a physical first half where both teams shot under 35% from the field.  Hincapie scored 11 of his 18 in the first period to lead the Bobcats.
 
The Buccaneers opened the second half with a 9-0 run to match their biggest lead of the game at 35-28.  Simpson took charge scoring nine of STU's 10 points during a stretch where the Bobcats cut the lead to one point multiple times.  Three-pointers by Battle and Hincapie, along with trips to the free throw line, would keep the Bobcats in the game heading into the game's final five minutes.
 
Battle would hit his second three-pointer of the game with 3:45 to give the Bobcats a 62-60 lead, their first lead of the second half.  Barry would battle back, taking the lead 68-65 with two minutes to play.  John Nunnally would hit a three-pointer for the Bobcats to tie the game at 68-68.  With 45 seconds to play, Hincapie would steal the ball under the Bucs basket, then go coast-to-coast hitting Battle for a fast break layup to give STU a 70-68 lead.  Barry responded with a layup by Justin McCroy to tie the game at 70-70 and force the overtime period.
 
The Bobcats return to action on Monday at 5 p.m. when they take on Truett-McConnell as part of the Northwood Classic in West Palm Beach, Fla.
 
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