Spartans Leave Lakeland Snake Bitten

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Southern Mocs 75, Tampa Spartans 56
Records: Tampa (9-16, 5-14 SSC), Florida Southern (18-9, 12-7 SSC)
Location: Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa trails the all-time series record with Florida Southern 42-70. 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | After winning the tip-off, Duke Shelton scored the first points of the game on a layup. The Mocs then retailiated with a layup of their own. Marcel Robinson then scored his first points of the game on a three-pointer assisted by Alberto Moreno. The Mocs started an offensive run that would put them up by as many as 12 points with 12 mintues left in the half. Robinson then cut that lead to 10 after he made an offensive rebound and scored a layup. The Mocs continued to dominate offensively, keeping the Spartans at at least a 10 point deficit. The Mocs led 40-26 heading into halftime. Robinson was the leading point scorer of the first half with 12 points. 

2nd Half | Nikola Marijan was the first Spartan to score with a layup. Anthony Gamble was the second to score after he sunk a three pointer assisted by Pat Bacon. The Mocs still came to play out of halftime as they maintained their lead over the Spartans for the entirety of the second half. The Spartans struggled to string together enough points to put pressure on the Mocs, as the Mocs went on to win 75-56. 

 INSIDE THE STATS:

• Bacon was the leading point scorer with 13 points. 
• Robinson was the second leading point scorer with 12 points. 

 BEYOND THE BOX:

• Nygel Blake recorded his first points as a Spartan on a layup. 
• John Whitaker tallied a career high against the Mocs with eight points. 

UP NEXT:
Tampa will travel to Barry University to take on the Bucs Saturday, February 24th at 4 pm following the women's matchup at 2 p.m.