Eckerd Completes Sweep of Tampa

Box score TAMPA, Fla. -

The University of Tampa (6-18, 2-12 SSC) men's basketball team were defeated in a lopsided game against Sunshine State Conference opponent Eckerd College (18-5, 10-3 SSC) on Wednesday night at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. The final score was 73-51.

Tampa got off to a quick start with Stefon Barfield scoring a 3-pointer immediately following the tip-off. Tampa topped Eckerd shooting 75 percent from the free-throw line and over 40 percent from the field in the first half. Both the Spartans and the Tritons held one another to 12 points in the paint.

Ashton Graham led the Spartans with 11 points while Jon Riles battled the boards for eight rebounds to end the first half. Both Lance Kearse and Wayne Sears Jr. led the Tritons with eight points in the first half. Tritons stayed in the game with shooting a whopping 10 percent more than the Spartans at 44 percent in the first half to lead the half 33-28.

Graham and Barfield steered the Spartans with 17 and 10 points, respectively. Riles continued to attack the boards and brought down the game's high 10 rebound but could not hold off the Tritons.

Eckerd controlled the second half as the Tritons had four players end the game with double digits. Sears finished with 19 points. Woody Taylor (14), Kearse(12), and Darrien Mack (11), all finished with double digits, while Mack pulled in 8 rebounds.

The Tritons scored 24 points off of turnovers alone and won the game 73-51.

The Spartans take on its next SSC opponent Florida Southern on February 22 at 7:30 p.m., in Lakeland, Fla.

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