Spartans Advance in SSC Tourney with Overtime Win over Rollins

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team completed a come from behind victory over visiting Rollins with an 80-76 win in the opening round of the 2008 Wendy's Sunshine State Conference tournament.

The first half was owned by Rollins, who secured a 32-26 halftime lead. UT took its first lead with 13:09 remaining in regulation as it secured the 39-38 lead. With the remainder of regulation a back-and-forth battle, Rollins took a 59-56 lead on a Kevin Hogan three-pointer with 49 seconds left. Down three, Rashad Callaway hit a game-tying three-pointer with 28 seconds on the clock. The next possession then resulted in a missed jumper by the Tars to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Spartans never trailed and led by as many as eight points in the period. Though Rollins chipped the lead to four points within a minute remaining, the Spartans sealed the win on a Jeremy Black put-back layup with 14 seconds remaining.

Callaway, the reigning SSC Player of the Week, finished with 20 points as he also scored the final five points of regulation to keep the Spartans in the game. He also connected on a team-high five three pointers.

Black led Tampa with a team-high 22 points while Johnathan Ball added 16. Chris King also had 13 points for UT. Black also led the Spartans with 12 rebounds while Chris Evans had 11. Callaway also led Tampa with eight assists while King had five steals.

The Spartans now advance to Saturday's semifinals, where they will meet Saint Leo at 2:30 p.m.