Bucs Outlast Spartans

TAMPA, Fla –  The University of Tampa Spartans hosted the Barry University Buccaneers in the Bob Martinez Center Wednesday night. The game featured 18 leads changes, but the Bucs surged down the stretch as they won the conference matchup 81-70. The Spartans are now 4-9 overall and 0-5 in the conference. The Bucs improve to 10-2 and 4-1 in SSC play.

Austin Rettig leads UT as he racked up 22 points and also added six rebounds. Pat Bacon and Marcel Robinson each added double-figures as they score 19 and 10 points respectively.

Duke Shelton lead Tampa on the boards as he pulled down 15rebounds.

The Spartans played tough defense in the first half as they held the Barry Buccaneers to only 28 points in the first half. The Bucs shot only 36.4 percent (12-33) in the half and committed six turnovers. Tampa traded blows with Barry in the half as they held the lead for the majority of the half, as they lead for 14 minutes in the half.

Rettig lead the Spartans in the opening stanza as the sophomore scored eight points. Shelton played tough in the paint, as he came down with eight boards.

At the 15:40 mark, Bacon picked up a steal and made a fast break layup to give the Spartans back the lead at 43-42. The two teams continued to trade baskets as Barry retook the lead at 11:20 as Yunio Barrueta hit a three-pointer. On the next possession, Rettig gave the Spartans back the lead as he was assisted on a layup by Shelton.

At the nine minute mark, Elvar Fridriksson hit a three-pointer to jumpstart a 9-0 Barry run, which gave them a 67-59 advantage. This run would be the tipping point in the game as the Spartans would not be able to even things back up.

Tampa will be back in action on Saturday as they face off against the Lynn Fighting Knights. The game is scheduled to start at 4:00 pm.

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