Spartans Surrender to Florida Southern

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team dropped their sixth straight game on Wednesday evening as Florida Southern stole the show in the second half. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final Score: Florida Southern 88, Tampa 71
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (9-11, 3-9 SSC), Florida Southern Moccasins (15-4, 8-3 SSC)
Location: Tampa, Fla. || Martinez Athletics Center
All-Time Series: The Spartans trail 72-49; Florida Southern has won four straight meetings.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | Florida Southern's Ben Marello began the game with a three-pointer, but the Spartans answered with a nine-point scoring stretch as four different players recorded baskets. The two teams went back and forth for the remainder of the half. Devon Colley led the team with 11 points, connecting on two long-range jumpers. Anthony Gamble and Freddy Ibrahim logged eight points apiece in the first half battle, as Gamble went a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Cedric Belemene secured a game-high five rebounds in the first 20 minutes of action. In the first half, Marco Downer swatted four shots, grabbed four rebounds and tallied four points. Tampa turned the ball over 10 times, which led to 17 points for the Moccasins. Florida Southern's Jack Rauch led his team with ten points on 5-of-7 shooting. 

2nd Half | The Moccasins came out of the locker-room with a 18-8 run to pull ahead. After shooting 60.9% from the field in the first half, the Spartans shot 28.1% throughout the second half. Colley chipped in 10 points to end the night with 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Belemene registered seven points in the second half, and came one rebound short of a double-double, as he finished the game with 11 points and nine defensive rebounds. FSC's Jonathon Lawton scored 19 points on 20 shots from the field. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Gamble completed the night a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
• Colley logged a season-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field.
• Downer tied a career-high with five blocks on the evening. Entering the night, the freshman from Congo was tied for 50th in the nation in total blocks. 
• Tampa shot 22-for-28 (78.6%) from the charity stripe which exceeds the season average (69.3%).

BEYOND THE BOX:

•  Head coach Richard Schmidt was honored tonight for his 700th career victory, which took place on December 8.

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will host the Embry-Riddle Eagles on Saturday afternoon as tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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