Career Performance From Rashad Callaway Not Enough To Carry Spartans

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Despite Rashad Callaway turning in the best University of Tampa men's basketball scoring performance in 22 years, the Spartans suffered an 85-77 loss to Lynn University in Sunshine State Conference action. UT drops to 8-4 and 3-1 in the SSC while the Fighting Knights improve to 8-6 and 3-1 in league play.

In an offensive battle dominated by each teams top players, Lynn outpaced the Spartans in a high scoring first half as it took a 46-42 lead to intermission. Callaway scored 25 of his career high 45 points in the first half as UT hit a 51.7 percent from the field while the Fighting Knights were a blazing 58.6 percent.

Lynn led for the entire second half, by as many as 12 points. UT battled back, coming within two points with a 70-68 score with 4:47 to play in regulation. A 5-0 run followed by the Fighting Knights, which was enough to thwart any comeback effort by the Spartans.

For Callaway, his 45 points was third in UT history for points in a single game as he matched Todd Linder's 45 point performance against St. Joseph's on Jan. 7, 1987. John Napier (56, 1/8/69) and Charles Andrews (46, 1/2/64) are the lone players in Tampa history with more points in a game.

The junior from Bayonne, N.J., finished 13-23 from the field and 9-17 from 3-point range in his historic scoring effort. He was also 10-12 from the free throw line and led UT with six assists and two steals.

Marcus Morrison and Callum Townsend joined Callaway in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively. The trio accounted for 69 of UT's 77 points, which was 90 percent of the total points for the Spartans. Morrison also had a team high six rebounds for Tampa.

Lynn's Chris Hall also went on a scoring spree, finishing with 35 points to lead the Fighting Knights. Hall finished 12-16 from the field and 8-9 from the charity stripe.

UT is back in action on Wednesday when it travels to St. Petersburg to meet Eckerd College in an SSC meeting. The game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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