Tars Pave Way Over Spartans

WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Tampa Spartans played in its first SSC Road game as they took on the Rollins Tars. The Spartans were unable to pullout the victory, as they fell 86-75. Tampa now drops to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in SSC play. Rollins improves to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

Pat Bacon led the team in points, as the freshman guard recorded 21 points and five assists. Austin Rettig contributed with a double-double, as he recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds. Zach Hollis added 12 points, while Marcel Robinson came off the bench to score 17 points.

Rollins went into the halftime break leading Tampa 42-37. In the first 20 minutes of play, Robinson led the way as he recorded 15 points in the opening frame. Bacon had nine points at the half, while Rettig led the team with eight rebounds.

As a team, UT shot 40 percent (12-30) from the field, including 7 of 17 from three-point range. Rollins was able to shoot 44.8 percent in the first half (13-29). The two teams traded buckets back and forth as the game was within five the majority of the half. The Tars held an eight point lead before Rettig drained a three-pointer to end the half.

Bacon hit a jumper with 10:59 left to play to ties the game at 53, but that would be the closest UT would get to a lead, as Rollins would end the game on a run to claim the 86-75 victory.

As a team, the Spartans shot 46.7 percent (28-60) and outrebounded Rollins 37 to 33. Tampa also won the assists battle as they compiled 17 to Rollins 13. The key stat in the game was the turnovers, Tampa committed 16 turnovers, while Rollins only committed seven.

UT will be in action again on November 27 when they participate in the Eckerd Tournament. Tampa will face off against Claflin.

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