Spartans Down Second Straight Ranked Opponent

WINTER PARK, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team won its Sunshine State Conference opener with a 70-66 victory over previously undefeated and number-four Rollins College. After defeating #12 Augusta State on Saturday, UT is now 8-2 on the year and 1-0 in the SSC. The defending SSC champion Tars fall to 10-1 and 0-1 in league action.

After Rollins scored the first basket of the game with 18:41 remaining in the first half, UT scored the next four points and never trailed. The Spartans captured the momentum as it took a 12 point lead with 2:41 left until the half and took a 31-21 lead to halftime.

The nation's fourth ranked team would not go down without a fight as it mounted a second half comeback. The Tars got back into the game with an 8-2 run to open the second half. Though Rollins never took the lead or tied the game, they came within one point on two occasions inside three minutes remaining.

With Tampa leading 69-66 with 16 seconds remaining, Rollins' Jonny Reibel missed a three-pointer that would have sent the game to overtime. Jeremy Black secured the rebound and put the game out of reach with a free throw.

All five Tampa starters scored in double figures, with Johnathan Ball's 15 leading the way. Ball made 3-5 from three-point range and also contributed six assists, two blocks and a team high three steals in 40 minutes of play.

Chris Evans added 14 points while Rashad Callaway and Chris King each had 13. Evans also had two blocked shots while Callaway led the Spartans with seven assists.

Jeremy Black had his team-leading sixth double-double of the season as he registered 10 points and a team-high 15 rebounds. Black has now recorded double figures in scoring in each of UT's 10 games this year.

The Spartans connected on 12 three-pointers on the evening and shot at a 40 percent clip from beyond the arc. UT also outrebounded the Tars 38-34. The game turned out to be an excellent battle as there were just 21 combined turnovers. The lone negative for Tampa was a 63.2 percent mark from the free throw line.

Tampa is back in action on Saturday as it hosts Nova Southeastern in an SSC meeting. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m., as part of a doubleheader with the UT and NSU women's teams.