Tampa Takes SSC Home Opener Over Lynn

TAMPA, Fla. – On Saturday the University of Tampa Spartans held off a second-half rally to defeat the visiting Lynn University Fighting Knights.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final Score: University of Tampa Spartans 79,  Lynn University Fighting Knights 76

Records: Tampa 4-2 (1-1 conf), Lynn 4-2 (1-2 conf)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.

All-Time Series: This is the 50th meeting between the conference rivals. The last time they faced was in February 2020, where Lynn won 114-80. Lynn also leads the series, 28-21. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st HALF

Lynn opened the scoring off a close-range layup from Servet Kurnaz. Tampa immediately struck back by drawing an and-one call that got the crowd excited. Both teams would later trade three-pointers as Tampa's fans kept the energy high. Both teams were clearly evenly matched, as Lynn only led 16-14 after 9 minutes of play. Max Jones, who has been strong for the Spartans all year, was able to equalize the game later on. With under nine minutes remaining in the first half, Jonathan Bryant II made a crucial three, and would later make a great improvised assist on a fastbreak to put Tampa up by five, their largest lead of the contest. A few minutes later, he'd capitalize on another contested shot to put Tampa up by seven. Tampa got on a roll late in the first half, and was able to take a sizeable lead. Great plays from Bryant II, Martin Lakovic, and the rest of the Spartans gave them an 18 point lead. However, Brandon Bornelus made a great buzzer beater to lower the lead to 47-32 entering the break. 

2nd HALF

After a minute of play, Lynn's Tommie Luke opened the scoring in the second half. Tampa was able to respond immediately after Jones drew a foul. Lynn had a stronger start to the second half, and was able to cut Tampa's lead down to ten after the opening few minutes. Bryant II drained a three-pointer to help grow Tampa's lead after it was cut down to eight. Halfway through the second half, Tampa led only 58-54, as Lynn was keeping it close. With under eight minutes to go, Lynn was able to equalize it, with Christian Peevy and Branden Ellis making key shots. Ellis gave Lynn their first lead since the first half after making a layup, but Jones immediately responded to equalize. Mykah Brown made a great play in transition to draw a foul and give Tampa a four-point lead with under six minutes remaining. Tampa finally got back in rhythm late in the second half, but even so Lynn kept the deficit within five with under three minutes remaining. Brandon Bornelous easily made the shot of the game on the half-court logo, but a timeout ultimately meant it didn't count. Tampa held a five-minute lead with one minute to go. Lynn equalized from the foul line, but Brown made it a two-possession lead after making both free throws after a foul. Lynn converted from the line, and would later get Tyson Leitao to only go one of two from the line to lower the lead to four with twenty seconds left. Bornelous made up for the timeout-prevented half-court shot by draining a clutch three-pointer with just eight seconds left to lower the defecit to one. With seven seconds left, Jones was fouled, and went two of two to give Tampa a three-point lead. With a few seconds remaining, Ellis misses the game-tying three to give Tampa a 79-76 win. 

INSIDE THE STATS

• Jones and Bryant II were the top scorers for Tampa, scoring 23 and 20 points respectively.

• Lakovic led the team with 9 rebounds and 4 assists, being a key part of the Spartans win.

• Jones got to know the charity stripe well, as he had 15 foul shots in the game, converting 11 of them.

• Christian Peevy was the top scorer for Lynn, with 20 points.

BEYOND THE BOX

• Lynn still leads the series with Tampa 28-22 after losing tonight on Tampa's home court.

• This was Tampa's third highest-scoring game of the season, only behind their early-season OT win against Montevallo and 91-80 shootout loss to Nova Southeastern.

• Tampa now has won their last three games in a row, improving to 4-2 on the year.

NEXT UP: Tampa next faces Embry-Riddle on November 8th in Daytona Beach.

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