Spartans Drop Conference Game to Eckerd
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team (9-4, 3-2 SSC) lost its second consecutive game, this time to Eckerd College (10-5, 3-2 SSC), 80-72 in St. Petersburg on Wednesday night.
Tampa's Johnathan Ball recorded the game's first basket just
over two minutes into the first half, helping to launch the
Spartans to an early 9-5 lead. The Tritons failed to be intimidated
as they scored nine of the game's next 11 points to take a 14-11
lead with 9:42 remaining in the first half. After a brief run by
Tampa, Eckerd continued to dictate the flow of the game, closing
out the half on a 20-17 run to take a 34-28 lead into the
break.
The Spartans opened the second half outscoring the Tritons 9-7 to
cut the lead to 39-37 with just under 17 minutes to play in the
game. Tampa battled over the next four minutes to tie the game at
45, before the Tritons went on a four minute, 15-4 run to take a
60-49 lead with 9:48 to play.
Eckerd kept Tampa at arm's length over the next seven minutes until
Chris King hit his only three-pointer of the game with 2:14 to go,
closing the gap to 71-68. It was not to be, however, as the Tritons
pulled away over the final two minutes to take down the Spartans
80-72.
Ball led the Spartans with 20 points in the game to go with six
rebounds. Jeremy Black, Rashad Callaway, and King joined Ball in
double figures with 19, 16, and 11 points, respectively. King led
Tampa with eight rebounds, while Callaway had a team-high three
assists.
Tampa returns to the floor on Saturday when it plays host to Barry
University in the second game of a men's-women's doubleheader.
Tip-off is scheduled for 4 pm.