Spartans Rally Falls Short

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team rallied in the second half against Lynn University, but ultimately dropped the contest to the 17th-ranked team in the nation.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final Score: No. 17 Lynn 85, Tampa 81
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (9-8, 3-6 SSC), No. 17 Lynn University Fighting Knights (14-2, 7-2 SSC)
Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center || Tampa, Fla.
All-Time Series: Tampa trails 26-20 in the series.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | Tampa held the lead mid-way through the first half, as Anthony Gamble logged 14 points in the first ten minutes. Gamble drained 4-of-6 three-pointers, and Freddy Ibrahim netted 10 points in the half. Cedric Belemene chipped in eight points and three rebounds in the opening half. The 17th-ranked Fighting Knights bounced back with a 25-12 scoring stretch, ending the half on a 12-5 run. Jamal Palmer, Lynn's leading scorer, connected on three long-range jumpers and totaled 16 points in 19 minutes of action. The two teams combined to shoot 17-for-22 from the free-throw line. Heading to halftime, No. 17 Lynn led 46-40 over the Spartans.

2nd Half | The Fighting Knights carried the momentum into the second half, as they went on a 17-2 run out of the locker-room. The Spartans found themselves in foul trouble as three players ultimately fouled out (Belemene, Downer, Gamble). Tampa's bench grinded their way back into the game, as they contributed 25 points compared to Lynn's eight bench points. UT trailed by 21 with 13:37 remaining, however, the Spartans went on a 19-5 scoring stretch led by Tyler Wilson. Wilson, a sophomore guard, tallied 11 points during the run and totaled a career-high 14 points in the contest. Gamble finished the game with 26 points, converting a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Brent Duncan grabbed a career-high seven rebounds in 23 minutes of play.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Spartans shot above their season average in FG% (45%), 3ptFG% (32%), and FT% (67%).
• UT's bench produced 25 points compared to Lynn's eight bench points. 
• Vincent Biffle scored six points in 11 minutes, but left the game due to injury.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Gamble has scored at least 22 points in six of the last seven games.

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will head to Saint Petersburg on Wednesday night, as the Spartans take on the Eckerd Tritons at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: General admission ticket prices for all Tampa regular season athletic events are $5. Youth (ages 12 and under) are admitted free of charge. UT students and faculty/staff are admitted free with a valid Spartan ID.

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