Spartans Continue Perfection With Thrilling Win Over Armstrong

Box score

ST. LEO, Fla. - The University of Tampa (6-0) men's basketball team got out to a big lead before surviving a late scare to defeat Armstrong University (4-2) by an 83-82 score.

The victory caps a weekend where Tampa picked up a pair of NCAA South Region victories, including a win over an Armstrong team that defeated No. 20 Saint Leo University by a score of 72-60.

It took Tampa less than seven minutes to take a double-digit lead as it was up 17-6 with 13:20 to play until halftime. UT held the lead for the remainder of the half, leading by as many as 13 points before taking a 41-30 advantage to the break.

UT continued its dominance in the second half, leading by as many as 20 points. With a 64-44 lead and 11:28 to play, the Spartans allowed the Pirates to go on a 12-0 run to cut the Spartan edge to eight points.

Following a Vincent Cornu basket to give Tampa another 10-point advantage, Armstrong proceeded to go another run. A 10-1 Pirate spurt cut the margin to one point at 67-66 with 4:50 to play. After tying the game at 69-69, Armstrong scored the next two baskets to grab a four-point lead as the Pirates would hold the momentum until just over a minute to play.

Armstrong carried a 75-71 lead with 2:20 on the clock as the Spartans would draw even on a pair of free throws by both Da'Markco Foster and Jon Riles as the contest was knotted at 77-77 with 38-seconds on the clock.

The Pirates would convert a basket that was followed by a foul, taking an 80-77 lead with just 24-seconds on the clock. In Tampa's following possession, Foster struck on a 3-pointer where he was also fouled, and hit a clutch free throw to give the Spartans 81-80 lead with 11-seconds to play.

It took Armstrong just three seconds to grab another lead in the sea-saw battle as the Pirates were up 82-81 with eight seconds remaining. Foster and the Spartans then had one last stand as the junior from Cincinnati needed just three seconds to convert a driving layup to give his Spartans the 83-82 victory.

Foster scored 10 of the final 12 Tampa points in the final 2:04 and finished with a team-high 29 points. 27 of Foster's 29 points came in the second half as he connected on three long-range shots and was 8-for-9 from the free throw line.

Anthony Griffis and Stefon Barfield each added 12 points as Jon Riles led all Spartans with three assists.

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