Moccasins Surpass Spartans in SSC Showdown

Final: Tampa 94, Florida Southern 107 
Records: Spartans (7-9, SSC 3-7), Moccasins (10-8, SSC 4-6)
Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa trails the all-time series with the Moccasins 42-69.
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | Florida Southern notched the first basket of the game, but Tampa quickly retaliated with back-to-back layups by senior Marcel Robinson. Junior Pat Bacon then got himself on the board by tallying six consecutive points. With two minutes remaining, the Moccasins took the lead for the first and final time of the half off a three-point jumper. Robinson led the team offensively registering 13 points, while Mekhi Biffle and Bacon played key roles on defense recording four baskets each. Heading into the locker room, the Moccasins led the Spartans 51-46.

2nd Half | The Spartans came out fully recharged starting the second half with a layup by Robinson. Three minutes in, after going 4-4 from the line, Bacon tied the game and eventually took the lead for UT. Unfortunately, Tampa was unable to maintain the lead for the remainder of the half. Offensively, Bacon led with 23 points while junior Freddy Ibrahim led in assists with nine. Defensively, Anthony Gamble, Biffle, Ibrahim, and Bacon all had five rebounds each. At the end of the game, the Spartans trailed the Moccasins 107-94.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Bacon was the leading point scorer with 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
• Robinson was the second highest point scorer with 22 points, four rebounds.
• Ibrahim led the Spartans in assists as he registered nine.
• As a team, Tampa shot 77 percent from the free throw line.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Freshman Tyler Wilson recorded a career high in single points per game with five.
• Frantz Pinard also recorded five points making a career high in single points per game.

UP NEXT:
Tampa returns to action Saturday at 4 pm as they travel to Boca Raton to square off against Lynn University. Live stats and video will be available through TampaSpartans.com.