Florida Southern Outshoots Tampa to Take SSC Rivalry Game

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - In a matchup between two longtime Sunshine State Conference rivals, Florida Southern College (10-5, 4-3 SSC) hit 50 percent from the floor to defeat the University of Tampa (4-12, 0-7 SSC) by a score of 97-71.

In front of its biggest crowd of the season at 514 for a student government sponsored "Blackout Game," the Spartans were unable to hold on to an early lead as the Moccasins surged ahead after leading by a 48-35 score at the half.

The Mocs would stretch its advantage to as many as 29 in the second half as it outshot UT by over 20 percent (50 to 28.6 percent). Florida Southern also connected on 10 3-pointers on 22 attempts.

Four Spartans scored in double figures, led by Stefon Barfield with 13 points. Callum Townsend added 11 as Jon Riles and Ashton Graham each tallied 10. Riles started at the point and scored each of his 10 points from the free-throw stripe.

Riles and Townsend each dished out a team-high three assists as Barfield turned in seven rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots to lead the Spartans in each category.

Tampa returns to the hardwood on Saturday as it face Palm Beach Atlantic University in its final non-conference game of the 2011-12 regular season. Live stats and a video webcast will be available through tampaspartans.tv.

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