Johnson Assists Spartans To Seventh Straight Win

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team defeated Saint Leo University, 79-67, to earn their seventh consecutive victory. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 79, Saint Leo 67
Records: Spartans (12-3, 5-1 SSC), Lions (7-8, 2-4 SSC)
Location: Bob Martinez Sports Center | Tampa, Fla. 
All-time Series: Tampa improves to 59-17 in the all-time series. 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

1st Half | Tampa scored first on a jumper by Mekhi Biffle and did not allow Saint Leo to take a lead until just after the 12-minute mark. The two sides changed leads nine times from there on out, with the Spartans capturing the lead they would take to the half on a layup by Marcel Robinson with 4:09 remaining. Overall, UT closed out the final five minutes of the first half with 13-2 run, while the Lions turned ball over four times, to take a 40-30 lead. Austin Rettig led Tampa with 11 points while Robinson followed close behind with nine. Duke Shelton led the team with eight rebounds and a block. 

2nd Half | The Spartans and Lions traded brief runs, as Saint Leo began to trim the deficit only for Tampa to separate the game by double digits again. UT pulled away to a game-high 17-point lead near the six-minute mark after going on a 18-5 run over 5:20. The Spartans remained ahead by double digits for the remainder of the game. Robinson led UT with 12 points while Shelton followed with 10 of his own and a team-leading seven rebounds.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tampa outshot Saint Leo in the field, 53 percent to 46 percent, and from three, 56 percent to 29 percent.
• The Spartans scored more points from the bench, 26-24, and off turnovers, 15-10. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tampa recorded its seventh consecutive win, the program's longest streak since winning 12 in a row to begin the 2012 campaign.
• Shelton recorded his eighth double-double of the season. 
• Matt Johnson recorded a career-high 13 assists. 

UP NEXT:

Tampa heads to St. Petersburg for a matchup with Eckerd on Wednesday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m. Live stats will be available through TampaStats.com.

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