#8 Benedict Ends Tampa’s NCAA Run

LAKELAND, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team suffered a 73-59 loss to eighth-ranked Benedict College in the NCAA II South Regionals.

BC's Bennie Lewis scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures, as the Tigers advance to the championship game of the NCAA Division II South Regional Men's Basketbal Tournament to be played Tuesday at 7 p.m., in Jenkins Field House on the campus of Florida Southern College.

Lewis scored 13 of his points in the final period as the Tigers (28-4) defended a 31-24 halftime lead. After the two teams traded the lead six times, Benedict went on a 13-2 run to take a 31-21 lead with 1:08 left in the opening period.

In the second half, the Tigers expanded their lead to 17 points while Tampa could not get any closer than nine points over the final 20 minutes despite Chris Evans valant effort, scoring 18 of his 20 points in the last half.

In addition to Lewis, Charles Gibbs and Zachary Barron added 15 and 14 points, respectively for the Tigers while Darius Lane added 10. Martinis Woody led the Tigers with 12 rebounds - all defensive as all of Benedict's 30 rebounds came ont he defensive end.

Tampa (21-9) got 20 points from Evans while Jeremy Black added 14 points and 14 rebounds.