Spartans Fall to Gators in The Swamp

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team traveled to Gainesville to take on the Gators and fell by a score of 94-57. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 57, Florida 94
Records: Tampa (0-1), Florida (1-0)
Location: Exactech Arena | Gainesville, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa trails the all time series 7-2 with the Gators. 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

 
1st Half | The Gators jumped out to an early lead after hitting a 3-pointer to open up the game. Junior transfer Nikola Marijan scored the first points for the Spartans on a jumper. Senior Marcel Robinson followed suit on a layup of his own. At the first media timeout the Gators would lead 16-8. After a scoreless minute and a half, the Gators scored on a layup and extended their lead to 17 points. After the second media timeout, the Gators led the Spartans 36-14. The Gators went on a 22 point run until senior Frantz Pinard scored on a layup for the Spartans, making the score 51-16. Senior Duke Shelton ended the first half on a layup to decrease the Gators lead to 29. 

2nd Half | Marijan started the second half much like he did the first, on a two point jumper. The Gators retaliated with eight straight points to make the score 59-24. Mekhi Biffle hit back to back jumpers for the Spartans with 15 minutes left in the game. Shelton went on a point run after scoring back to back layups for the Spartans. Freddy Ibrahim scored his first points of the game on a layup with five and a half minutes left in the game. Shelton scored the last points of the game on a deep three pointer to make the final score 94-57, Gators. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Shelton led all Spartans with a double-double notching 22 points and 11 rebounds.

UP NEXT:

Tampa returns to action on Saturday November 11th at 2 pm against North Alabama in The Bob Martinez Athletic Center.

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