Spartans Welcome Eagles for Mid-Week SSC Play

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's and women's basketball programs welcome the Embry-Riddle Eagles to the Martinez Center for a mid-week Sunshine State Conference matchup.

WOMEN'S:

The Matchup: University of Tampa Spartans (8-3, 5-0 SSC) vs. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles (5-7, 3-3 SSC)

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at 5:30 pm 

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla. | 400 North Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606

Series History: The Spartans and the Eagles have only matched up a total of eight times. The record is tied at 4-4 with both teams having a home and away record of 2-2. The last win for the Spartans came in February of 2019 where they won by six in the Martinez Athletics Center, 68-62.

Last Time Out: Dori Nagy finished the game with a team-high 17 points and nine rebounds. She was 8-for-14 from the field and also dished out four assists. LaShayla Wright-Ponder and Melijah Sullivan also finished in double-digits with 11 and 10 points respectively. Kris Nelson had a low scoring game with three points but played a major role as she recorded six assists, two blocks, and a steal. UT shot 48.0 percent from the field as Palm Beach Atlantic was at 28.3.

About the Spartans (Women): After five conference tests so far, Tampa is 5-0 with a combined 732 points scored, averaging 66.5 points a game. The Spartans have four players averaging in the double-digits a game. Wright-Ponder is averaging 16.6, Nagy is right behind her averaging 14.6, Nelson is averaging 11.1, and Sullivan is averaging 12.2 points a game. Julia Ingram, Nelson, Nagy, and Sullivan are all averaging over 30 minutes a game. Ingram, Nagy, and Nelson lead the Sunshine State Conference in minutes per game. Tampa's defense has only been allowing 57.2 points a game on 38.6% shooting.

About the Eagles (Women): The Eagles are 3-3 in the conference after losing their last two games to Barry and Florida Tech. Embry-Riddle is averaging 71.3 points on 43.0% shooting after twelve games. Sophomore guard Sarah Jones and Junior Nikki Tucker are the only two players averaging in the double-digits with 15.4 and 13.9 points a game. Their defense is forcing 8.4 steals per games and about two blocks per games. 

MEN'S:

The Matchup: University of Tampa Spartans (3-10, 0-5 SSC) vs. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles (12-2, 4-2 SSC)

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 08, 2020 7:30 pm 

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla. | 400 North Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606

Series History: Tampa leads the overall series 7-4, and has a home record of 5-2. The Spartans also lead the Sunshine State Conference record 3-1. In the last 10 meetings, Tampa is 6-4.

Last Time Out: The Spartans fell to Palm Beach Atlantic, 64-81, on the road. Three different players scored in double-digit figures: Pat Bacon (18), Derrick Felder (15), and Martin Lakovic (14). As well as having been the leading scorer, Bacon tied his career high in steals for the third time with four steals. All three occasions have come against Palm Beach Atlantic.

About the Spartans (Men): After five conference contests, the men have scored a combined 869 points, averaging 66.8 points and a field goal percentage of 43.2%. The Spartans have two players averaging in the double-digits. Bacon leads the way with 21.1 points per game. Junior transfer guard Derrick Felder averages 11.8 points per game. Both Martin Lakovic  and Felder lead the team in rebounds, averaging around seven per game. Lakovic, Felder, and Bacon are all averaging over 30 minutes per game.

About the Eagles (Men): The Eagles are averaging around 100 points per game. 14 games in, Embry-Riddleis shooting 46.7% from the field, and 37.4% from 3-point line. The Eagles have four players averaging in double-digits figures. Romeo Crouch leads the team with 17.8 points per game and 6 assists per game. Senior big-man Luka Majstorovic averages 3.1 blocks per game, which is a team high and is second in the conference. 

Tickets: General admission ticket prices for all Tampa regular season athletic events are $5. Youth (ages 12 and under) are admitted free of charge. UT students and faculty/staff are admitted free with a valid Spartan ID.

Watch Live: Fans may watch the game through TampaSpartans.tv. Live stats are available through TampaStats.com.

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