MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team began Sunshine State Conference play on Wednesday with a matchup against Barry.

In a back-and-forth affair, the game fittingly came down to the final seconds of action. PBA (6-1, 1-0 SSC) held a three-point lead as time ticked down. The Bucs (4-2, 0-1 SSC) tied the game at 80 with a 3-pointer at the 15-second mark. The Sailfish played it out with Dan Braster taking the final shot. The New York native isolated on the wing and dribbled in before rising for a pull-up jumper that fell to give the Sailfish a two-point lead with one second left. The 'Fish held on to win 82-80, earning revenge over a Bucs program that took both games of the season series last year.

Braster's last-second shot gave him 15 total points for the game to go with 10 rebounds and two assists. Marcus Montalvo led the 'Fish in scoring with 17 points, including three triples with four assists. He was efficient in his work, converting on 6-of-8 attempts from the field and going 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Grant Ledford found his groove in tonight's game, scoring 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting with 12 rebounds. Will Lee added 12 points and three assists. Jamaal Walker tallied 12 points with four rebounds off the bench. Ryan Claflin played well in limited minutes, scoring nine points on five shots.

The pace was rampant from the opening tip. Barry extended its defense to full-court early in the first half, but the Sailfish were able to handle the press well. The duo of Braster and Ledford got to work early and helped the Sailfish build an eight-point lead through the first 10 minutes of action. Barry worked its way into the game by winning the rebounding battle and increasing the intensity of the press which resulted in some PBA turnovers. The hosts took a 44-41 lead into the locker room. 

The Sailfish executed well on the offensive end in the first half. PBA converted on 51 percent of its shots while holding Barry to 40 percent from the field. Barry scored 11 points off turnovers in the period which made the difference in the half.

Lee got hot early in the second half. He knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to regain the lead for PBA. Ledford followed with back-to-back baskets to give the 'Fish a 53-47 lead with 15 minutes to play. A cold spell for PBA allowed Barry to retake a lead midway through the period. Just when it seemed the Bucs seized the momentum, Montalvo knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 67 with just over five minutes to play.

A pair of layups by Walker and a strip and dunk by Braster made it 73-69 with three and a half minutes to go. Barry hit a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, but Ledford answered with a triple of his own. Free throws by Braster made it 78-72 with two minutes to go. A layup and 3-point play by the Bucs made it a one-point game with 32 seconds to go. Walker hit some clutch free throws to make it 80-77. Barry hit a three to tie the game, but Braster's clutch shot won the game for PBA, 82-80.

PBA outshot Barry 50 percent to 42 percent in the game. The 'Fish only committed four turnovers in the second half, limiting easy buckets for the Bucs. Barry came out on top in the rebounding battle, but PBA's efficiency on the offensive end made up for the disadvantage on the boards.

The Sailfish return to the friendly confines of Rubin Arena on Saturday. PBA faces off against Rollins at 4 p.m.