Spartans' Pull Away in Second Half, Win Fourth Straight

ST. LEO, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team dominated Saint Leo on Wednesday night, as the offensive exploded for 60 points in the second half. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final Score: Tampa 95, Saint Leo 74
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (13-12, 7-10 SSC), Saint Leo University Lions (12-14, 9-9 SSC)
Location: Marion Bowman Activities Center || St. Leo, Fla. 
All-Time Series: Tampa leads the series 60-21, as the Spartans snapped a four game losing streak.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | Saint Leo began the game on an 8-0 run until Freddy Ibrahim killed the momentum with a three-pointer. After exchanging a few baskets, the Spartans went on an 11-0 scoring stretch led by Alberto Moreno's five points. In the final five minutes of the half, Saint Leo shot 2-of-12 from the field. Ibrahim led the team with nine points while Anthony Gamble grabbed seven rebounds in the first 20 minutes of action. Four Spartans tallied at least seven points in the first half. Saint Leo out-scored Tampa in the paint, 14-6, but the Spartans out-rebounded the Lions, 20-19. Heading into the second half, UT led 35-34 over Saint Leo.

2nd Half | Tampa came out of the locker-room on fire, converting on the first 15-of-16 shots from the field. The efficient scoring extended the lead to 72-45, with nine minutes remaining. The game was out of reach as Ibrahim led the Spartans with a career-high 30 points. In the second half, Tampa drained 9-of-12 from long range including a career-high six three-pointers from Ibrahim. At one point in the half, Ibrahim and Moreno hit three consecutive shots from long range. Gamble registered 16 points and tied Marco Downer with a game-high eight rebounds. Downer swatted four shots as he leads the SSC in blocks at 2.7 per game. Devon Colley added 17 points on 5-of-7 from the field, 4-of-6 from deep.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Ibrahim scored a career-high 30 points on 9-of-14 from the field, draining a career-high 6-of-10 from long-range.
• Gamble tied a season-high with eight rebounds.
• Tampa scored 90-plus for the fourth time this season.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Ibrahim's set his career-high in scoring in back-to-back games. He's combined for 53 points in the last two games. 
• In the last two games, the Spartans have shot 58% (34-for-59) from three-point range.
• The Spartans have won four straight games as they fight for conference tournament berth.

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will host Nova Southeastern on Saturday, Feb. 23 as tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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