Tampa's Second-Half Explosion Leads Spartans to Victory

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa men's basketball team exploded in the second half to defeat Eckerd in a 17-point blowout.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: Tampa 78, Eckerd 61

Records: University of Tampa Spartans (6-14, 3-9 SSC), Eckerd College Tritons (7-13, 3-9 SSC)

Location: Martinez Athletics Center || Tampa, Fla.

All-Time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series 54-37. The Spartans are 33-15 at home versus Eckerd. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

1st Half | Eckerd's Admir Radonic tallied the first points of the game which was answered by a three-pointer from UT's Martin Lakovic. Radoncic rattled off three of the next five points for the Tritons. The back-and-forth half continued throughout the opening 20 minutes as the lead changed a total of seven times. Radoncic and Tampa's Derrick Felder tied for a game-high 12 points in the first half. Pat Bacon totaled 11 points on 4-of-6 from the field, with two converted free-throws. Brent Duncan led the half with five rebounds and two steals. The Spartans shot 50% (12-for-24) from the field as a team and connected on 4-of-7 from long-range. || UT 33, EC 28

2nd Half | Eckerd fought back in the early stages and tied the game at 37-37 on a three-pointer from Malcolm Whitlow. Whitlow registered five of the opening nine points for Eckerd. The half remained a close battle until the five-minute mark as Tampa went on a 16-0 run. Bacon and Felder combined for 14 points over the stretch, with Bacon logging eight points and two assists. The Spartans rattled off 24 points in the paint throughout the second half. UT caught fire shooting 70.8% (17-for-24) from the field. || UT 78, EC 61

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Pat Bacon led the team in scoring with 25 points on 9-of-13 from the field. The senior added eight assists and converted a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. 
• Derrick Felder added 24 points, one shy of tying his career-high. The junior transfer drained five three-pointers, his highest output as a Spartan.
• Tampa went 9-of-14 from long-range, connecting at a 64.3% clip. 
• Eckerd's Admir Radoncic went 10-for-19 from the field, including 4-of-6 from the free throw line, and totaled 25 points.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Brent Duncan swiped a career-high four steals and racked up nine rebounds, one shy of his career-high. 
• Bacon has scored 20+ points in 14 games in the season.
• The Spartans tied their season-high in made three-pointers (9), but they were the most efficient they've been all season from deep (64.3%).
• Additionally, they set their season-high in efficency at the free-throw line as UT converted 11-of-12 (91.7%).

UP NEXT: The Spartans will travel to Winter Park to face off against the Rollins College Tars, tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. following the women's contest. 

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