Spartans Unable to Finish Back and Forth Battle With Sailfish

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The University of Tampa Spartans lost a back-and-forth battle with the Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish, 87-79.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish 87, University of Tampa Spartans 79.

Records: Tampa (1-2), Palm Beach Atlantic (2-1).

Location: Rubin Arena | West Palm Beach, Fla.

All-Time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series with a record of 24-10. Tampa's last win against PBA was came on February 6, 2019.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Junior Mykah Brown opened the scoring for the Spartans with a nifty jumper one minute into the game. The Sailfish had a quick 7-0 run to take an early 10-4 lead with 17:27 to go in the first half, including a 3-3 start from beyond the arc. Freshman Max Jones and Junior Derrick Felder would answer with two back-to-back threes of their own to stop the run and make the contest a one possession game, 13-10 Sailfish with 16:02 to go. Both offenses enjoyed a blistering hot start, shooting over 60% in the first ten minutes. The Spartans and Sailfish traded baskets for most of the game until a 9-0 run gave the Sailfish a comfortable 32-23 lead with 7:39 to go.

The Spartans, resilient throughout the game and always in it, answered with a 10-2 run of their own to tie the game 34-34 with just under three minutes left. The Spartans had four players score five or more points in the first half. Brown led the way with nine, and shot 3-6 from the field, including 2-3 from three.  Score at the half: PBA 39, Spartans 36.

SECOND HALF

Brown once again opened the scoring for the Spartans, splitting the defense for an easy layup to put the Spartans within one. A Sailfish turnover led to a transition, fast break opportunity for the Spartans that ended in a blocking foul for Felder, who sank two key free-throws to tie the game 48-48 with 13:19 left in the second half. Prior to Felder's free-throw makes the Spartans were just 2-12 from the line – a key storyline thus far.

The Spartans tight defense in the second half sent the Sailfish on field-goal drought of over six minutes, giving the Spartans their first lead of the game, 52-51, with 10:59 to go. Despite the Spartans feverish defense and their all-out effort to tie the game, the Sailfish would go on a 16-5 run to take a 70-59 lead with 5:02 left in the second half. Tampa outscored Palm Beach Atlantic 20-17 to close out the game but effort proved futile as the Sailfish escaped with a win on their home court.

INSIDE THE STATS

• UT had five players score 10 or more points: Martin Lakovic (10), Derrick Felder (11), Mykah Brown (11), Jonathan Bryant II (13), Max Jones (21).

BEYOND THE BOX

• Max Jones continued a scorching scoring start to his freshman campaign, notching 21 points on 8-16 shooting. He now owns a three-game scoring streak of 20 plus points to begin his collegiate career.
• UT has recorded 10 or more steals in each of their first three games.
• This is the third game in a row UT has led in both blocks and steals.

UP NEXT: The Spartans are back home Saturday for an afternoon matchup with Florida Tech. Tip-off is at 2:00 p.m.

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